BY STEPHANIE LAM
Daily Post Correspondent
Palo Alto High School junior Summer Devi Mehta had a seemingly endless list of activities she loved to do: from listening to hip hop music, and performing in local plays, to playing Minecraft and learning how to do her makeup.
What she loved most of all, was making people in her life happy. But as a transgender girl who struggled with depression and worried about how people would treat her, Summer wasn’t always convinced she could do that, her family said in an online remembrance of the 17-year-old.
On Tuesday (Feb. 3), Summer committed suicide.
She was identified by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner as the 17-year-old who was hit and killed by a Caltrain that day at Churchill Avenue.
Before the incident Summer had written a letter, her family said, saying she hoped her death would bring people together; call attention to the trans suicide epidemic; and raise $1 million for the Trevor Project — a nationwide suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth.
The Mehta family on Thursday created a fundraising page with the Trevor Project in her memory. So far has raised $149,313 out of Summer’s $1 million goal.
Dreamed of NYC
Born on New Year’s Eve 2008, Summer grew up in Sunnyvale with her parents, older sister and younger brother. She often spent her childhood summers visiting her grandparents in Pennsylvania and winters in Lake Tahoe skiing and making s’mores with her family, according to the fundraiser page.
Although Summer was a native Californian, she developed a fondness for London after visiting the city with her family five years ago. She dreamed of moving to New York City to attend NYU and eventually work in stage tech and help out in Broadway plays, her parents said.
As Summer got older theater became a constant passion in her life, according to the fundraiser. She participated in plays both on and off-stage for local theatre programs.
Summer joined the ensemble in the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre’s production of “The Adams Family” in 2022, and played a narrator for their “Alice in Wonderland” production in 2021. That same year, she took center stage as Elphaba in “The Wizard of Oz,” which was produced by the Redwood City-based Hope Musical Theater.
Summer told her family in June 2022 that she identified as a girl, as opposed to previously identifying as non-binary, according to her family. After Summer came out, she was visibly happier and more herself, her family said.
Struggled with loss of friend
While Summer enjoyed time with her family and friends, she also struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts, her family said. Last March Summer’s best friend, Paly high schooler Ash He, died by suicide. He, who was 15 and identified as non-binary, was also hit and killed by a Caltrain.
The Mehta family said Summer was trying hard to cope with He’s death, but it was, “just too difficult for her.” Summer is survived by her parents Monica Gupta Mehta and Nick Mehta, sister Asha, brother Leo and other extended family members.
The Palo Alto Unified School District is collaborating with mental health organizations beginning Monday (Feb. 9) to offer resources for the community. The Children’s Health Council will host a virtual event Monday at 6:30 p.m. about how parents can talk to teens about suicide. Allcove Palo Alto will offer in-person grief support groups for students Wednesday and Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at 2741 Middlefield Road.
From what I understand, he was a he, not a she.
What a strange thing to say aloud. You didn’t read the article apparently. May your ignorance be replaced with compassion.
Absolutely
Rest in peace, Summer.
Very sad.
It’s time to let go of the delusion that someone can change their sex.
Millie, I hope your death is met with more dignity, grace, and compassion than you are showing Summer and her family and friends. May hatred leave your heart.
Megan stop furthering the delusion that anyone can change their sex. It seems clear this delusion is harming many.
Somebody died. Have some compassion.
It’s sad and tragic and it’s time to stop promoting the lie that someone can change their sex.
It isnt compassionate to lie to children and promote a false delusion, that someone can change their sex.
To the friends and family of Devi, I offer my deepest condolences.
I want to draw you attention to a very shocking part of the otherwise full of love, deep sadness and care that was shared by the family. Here is the extract which I find to be utterly counterproductive: (…) Summer, in the letter she posted, said that she hoped her death would bring people together, would bring awareness to the suicide epidemic (especially the trans suicide epidemic), and would raise $1 million for the Trevor Project. This should never happen, to anyone, ever again, and yet every 40 seconds it does. Suicide is a leading killer of youth worldwide, and this crisis is especially severe for trans people. This is not because of anything inherently wrong about trans people, but because of how scary and unwelcoming the world is for them. I remember, one time a few years ago, Summer was talking a lot about how everyone in power wants her dead, because of the policies they were passing. The world was a scary place for her, as a transgender, autistic woman. It should not have been. It should have seen her for the wonderful, radiant, and deeply empathetic person she was.
[Portion removed — Terms of Use violation. Please don’t post links.]
This is personal and not inspirational. It is not rational. It is also very much a danger to share.,
In fact it is dangerously justifying a death by being crushed by a train.
Megan stop furthering the delusion that anyone can change their sex. It seems clear this delusion is harming many.
Can you just go f yourselves? You have no right to lecture anyone about their bodies, needs and desires. Mind your own business if you can’t show compassion for a young life lost, family and friends in pain. People like you are the ones driving these kids to suicide.
Jayde – misleading children and adults that they can change sex is causing harm to many.
Millie,
You are clearly a bot as no human would have the indecency to be so callous at the loss of a young life. Go F yourself, as Jayde said. If indeed, you are human, you should think about other ways to promote your ideaology instead of trolling those grieving the loss of Summer. Be more productive and kind.
Just heart breaking. My condolences to the family.
On a technical note, can the writer of this article please correct the pronouns of Summers non-binary friend Ash to they/them?
Unless Ash went with the pronouns he/him. Then maybe mention that those pronouns were verified?
Please correct the pronouns! I can not read this dead pronoun article!