‘A born leader.’ Norwalk man killed on I-95 remembered as great teammate and beloved camp counselor
Connecticut State Police said Jake Seco, 22, was fatally struck by a car while walking across I-95 South in Fairfield early Friday morning. It happened after Seco veered left for an unknown reason and crashed into the median, according to police.
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A Norwalk native, who was hit by a car and killed last week, was an exceptional athlete and a favorite camp counselor, according to those who knew him.
Jake Seco, 22, died early Friday morning. Connecticut State Police said Seco was heading south on Interstate 95 in Fairfield when he veered left for an unknown reason and crashed into the median around 2:25 a.m. Police said Seco got out and was walking across the highway when he was fatally struck by another driver.
Seco attended Southern Connecticut State University, where he played rugby. He graduated from Brien McMahon High School in 2021, but his picture still hangs in the hall there as a “career athlete,” a recognition given to standouts in multiple sports. Seco was on the football, wrestling and baseball teams.
“He was a born leader, someone who worked hard,” said Jeffrey Queiroga, a physical education and health teacher at Brien McMahon High School. Queiroga was the head football coach during Seco’s junior year.
“He only started the last four games of that season, but he just wowed all his coaches and his teammates. He was very impressive with his leadership and his diligence that it was enough for him to be elected as a captain," Queiroga said.
“He was just the nicest kid. ‘Yes, sir. No sir. Hey, what can I do for you?' Just a great teammate, you know? A coach’s dream,” added Brien McMahon athletic director, John Cross. “He had so much to give. It's just too bad that such a good person left this earth so early.”
At the Wilton Family YMCA, Seco's picture sat on the front desk on Monday in memory of him. He was a beloved counselor there at Camp Gordyland for the past four summers, the last three working the ropes course.
“I've never, ever seen him have a bad day or upset about something. He was always just a positive, fun person to be around,” stated camps director Mike Kazlauskas, adding that Seco was also the go-to if you needed an ear. “He was the best kind of guy. He would just listen to you.”
Kazlauskas told News 12 he saw Seco the day before he died, and they talked about the upcoming summer.
“He was really excited to be back, and I know the campers will be asking for him," Kazlauskas said.
A Facebook post on the Camp Gordyland Parent Page paid tribute to Seco, calling him "one of the absolute greats."
"Jake was an exceptional person whose positivity, kindness, and dedication made a lasting impact on everyone he worked with," the post stated.
Seco had plans to be a physical education teacher when he finished college. A few months ago, he ran into his old coach, Queiroga, at a PE clinic.
“We hugged it out, and we were talking. I talked about trying to get him in here,” Queiroga recalled. “He was just a kid who loved life, enjoyed it. He was never too cool for anything, just kind of attacking every day as it was.”
A fundraising effort is underway to help Seco’s family with funeral expenses.
Police continue to investigate his death.
