Oliver Ames Community Mourns the Loss of 'A Treasure of a Kid'

Everyone who knew Devin Ness knew he was a terrific person.

"Devin is an absolute treasure of a kid," Oliver Ames Principal Wes Paul said. "Everyone that knows him loves him deeply. He’s a friend to so many and just one of those kids that everyone who knew him just absolutely adored him."

Ness, a senior captain on the Oliver Ames wrestling team, died tragically and suddenly Friday morning of a brain aneurysm.

He first became sick while dog-sitting for a family member in West Bridgewater Thursday night and was brought to Boston Medical Center.

"Adam Pomella, the wrestling coach, let me know last night that he had to be taken to the hospital and he had some kind of a brain bleed," Paul said.

Ness was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

His passing sent a deep sadness through the hallways of OA, Paul said.

"I hate to use the term ‘a wonderful kid,' but he is just a wonderful young man," Paul said. "He is going to be deeply missed by so many who loved him."

Faculty and staff met Friday and decided to cancel events at the high school, including home and away athletic events.

Additionally, the school is opening Saturday at 11 a.m. to give students a place to gather.

"We have a lot of kids sad," Paul said. "Myself and faculty and staff got together and we informed the parents through our messaging system what was going on. We’re going to open the school tomorrow at 11 to give the place to gather again since it’s the weekend. We’ll probably order some pizzas. We canceled all of our games and stuff today and we’ll regroup from there."

Paul credited Ness' family with raising "such great children."

"We lost a great young man – a friend of many," Paul said. "I know the parents are suffering a tremendous loss."