Gabriel DeLeon, 15, of Burlington, died by suicide on March 3, 2026.

If you ever met Gabe, you remember. He gave hugs you didn't want to end. He was smart and charismatic. He was sensitive and felt things deeply.

Gabe was born October 18, 2010, to Kristina Mead and Josh DeLeon. He grew up in Burlington's Northgate neighborhood and attended Sustainability Academy, where his teachers knew him for his playfulness, his giggle, and his smile.

At Hunt Middle School, Gabe didn't always make it to class, but when he was there, it was his personality that stood out. He was artistic and talented, but really, he had no enemies and was friends with everyone. He went on to Burlington High School and had just begun attending the Mill School, where those same qualities followed him.

Gabe understood friendships the way some people don't until they're much older. He cared about people, not quietly they knew it. He was funny and raw, you couldn't help it, you laughed. He could tell you to back off in a tone that was both irritated and affectionate, and describe the world in ways no one else would say out loud. His friends knew a Gabe who was real, a friend who showed up.

Gabe's life carried weight. He didn't get to just be a kid. He struggled; he made choices that worried the people around him. But even then, you'd get a flash of the real Gabe, friendly and funny in a way that caught you off guard. The people who worked with him knew both the struggle and the potential. They saw him.

His mother said it best: "God, I'm really going to miss that guy."

Gabe is survived by his mother, Kristina Mead; his father, Josh DeLeon; his brother Solomon; his half-brothers William and Joshua; his grandparents; family friend Dan Hescock; and the many friends, teachers, and counselors carrying this loss.

The family is grateful to the Mill School for their generosity, kindness, and care during this time, and to everyone who has contributed to the GoFundMe and the Meal Train.

A memorial service will be held at LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski, on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at Gabe's Celebration of Life on GoFundMe.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988.