Losing a son might be the worst thing that can happen to a loving mother. But tragedy was turned to a whole new level for a woman in England. Just 18 months after her son took his own life her husband followed him. He was certain that their son committed suicide over the homophobic bullying he had to deal with at his school.
The Telegraph reports: Roger Crouch, 55, started an anti-bullying campaign after his son Dominic, 15, leapt off a roof on his way home from his school in May last year. Mr Crouch became a voice for equality and was given an award by the charity Stonewall after taking his campaign to the House of Commons.
He was found dead at his home on Monday. Police said they were not treating his death as suspicious. Mr Crouch’s wife, Paola, with whom he also had a daughter, Giulia, announced her husband’s death on the Facebook group they created for their campaign. Posting on Friends of Dom Crouch against Bullying, she wrote:
“I have the saddest news to give you. The love of my life and Giulia and Domi’s beloved Dad, died tonight. The changes you have started, for young people everywhere, the work you have done against bullying will remain as a towering monument to you. Our hearts break Roger, Domi, Giulia and I loved you so much.”
Mr Crouch was a former director of children’s services for Gloucestershire county council and a former chief executive of the county’s Learning and Skills Council. Most recently he had been clerk of Stow-on-the-Wold town council in the Cotswolds.
His son Dominic leapt from the roof of a six-storey building near his home after leaving school at around 3pm on May 18 last year. He had sent a text message to 999 [emergency call number in Britain] in an apparent cry for help but found that the texting service was designed only for registered users.
An inquest into the schoolboy’s death heard there had been rumours that during a school trip he had kissed another boy and might have been gay. Mr Crouch argued that his son’s death was caused by homophobic bullying. He set up Friends of Dom Crouch Against Bullying to help end bullying and prevent young suicides.
He campaigned ceaselessly, speaking at Stonewall’s Education for All conference on July 1 this year. The homosexual rights group named him Stonewall Hero of the Year 2011. He was also a patron for Diversity Role Models, a charity campaigning against anti-homosexual bullying. A spokesman for Stonewall said yesterday that it was “very saddened” to hear of Mr Crouch’s death and added: “His tireless campaigning against bullying following the death of his son was an inspiration. Our thoughts are with his wife and family at this very difficult time.”