The James Logan Courier

By Rick LaPlante, New Haven School's Public Information Officer

Friends and community members have set up a memorial fund for the family of Catlynne Shaw, an Alvarado Middle School student who died July 22 , six days after her heart stopped while she was riding a roller coaster in Las Vegas.

Catlynne, 12, suffered an apparent heart attack while riding the Canyon Blaster roller coaster at the Circus Circus Adventuredome on July 16. She was revived with the help of an off-duty firefighter waiting in line for the ride, and was taken to University Medical Center, where she died last Tuesday. Officials said it could be several weeks before a cause of death is determined.

Catlynne, who attended Eastin Elementary School, had just finished sixth grade at Alvarado Middle, where she was a straight-A student. Her brother, Stephen, also attended AMS. The family was in Las Vegas because the children’s grandfather had died the previous week, their mother said.

Services for Catlynne were held in Las Vegas, where she was buried. The family now plans will move to Las Vegas, her mother said.

A memorial fund has been set up at Bank of America, 1900 Decoto Road, Union City. Contributions can be made to the Catlynne Shaw Memorial Fund.