Remembering Noel

Memories of soccer games and stage performances flooded the minds of Jerry and Patricia Lopez on Thursday afternoon - images of their youngest son now contained to photographs and mental recall.

On Monday morning, workers in Seattle found the body of Noel Richard Lopez, 25, at a construction site with fatal injuries to his head and torso. The former Odessan had left his hometown to attend the Art Institute of Seattle in studies of animation, his grieving parents said.

"He was very talented," his father said.

Born on Christmas Day 1982, Noel Lopez's parents called him a "magic son" and said they would continue to hang the same Christmas stocking he's had since birth.

"He was a good boy with so much personality," Patricia Lopez said.

Noel graduated from Odessa High in 2001 and was known by many in the community for his various talents in athletics, academia, acting, art and music. He played soccer for OHS and bass in the orchestra, tennis at Ector Junior High and was a high-flyer in entertainment wrestling.

An artist at heart, Noel was also in the Kaleidoscope Company at the Permian Playhouse and performed at the Globe Theatre as well.

New Yorker Chris Borgman, 30, said he was shocked to hear of his friend's death. As a former Odessa friend of the family, Borgman said he and Noel shared the theater stage several times.

"He was one of the brightest, most compassionate people I ever met," he said. "Aside from his vibrant personality, he was a tremendous artist musically and visually."

Before he was killed, Patricia Lopez said, Noel Lopez was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and suffered through a manic state that caused him to make irrational decisions that cost him a job and apartment.

"He was a cheerful, beautiful boy before he got sick," she said. "We don't want to keep it a secret - we want people to know how dangerous it is, and there's not adequate health care available."

Patricia Lopez said her son's lasting impact, however, overshadows the personal struggle of his last days.

"He was brilliant mentally," she said. "He had so many gifts - he was a gift to us."

IF YOU GO

>> A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Sunday at Acres West Funeral Chapel,

>> Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Francis Frey officiating.