In a letter dated May 27 of this year, John and Joann Queenan of Hooksett, New Hampshire requested that Saint Joseph’s College deny Luke Chouinard’s return as a student.

Two years ago, Chouinard lost control of his car and crashed on Route 114 in Naples while carrying the Queenan’s son John and another passenger. The son died the next day from injuries he sustained.

Now, Chouinard awaits his release in late August from the Cumberland County Jail after serving eight months for manslaughter.

The Queenans believe that Chouinard’s return would be painful for the students attending the college who graduated from Bow High School with their son, as well as for a number of students who met John in his five days at St. Joseph’s.

“We found out from someone that he was going back to school there,” John Queenan said. “I asked the school, ‘Is Luke coming back?’ and they said it was a possibility. When we told them we didn’t agree, they asked for it in writing. I wrote and summarized my feelings.”

The Queenans are not against Chouinard continuing his education. They even asked St. Joseph’s College to assist him in applying elsewhere. But they feel that the school should send “a message to young people that reckless behavior won’t be tolerated.”

In the June 20 reply they received from Saint Joseph’s College, supplied to this newspaper by the Queenans, President David House wrote, “I have determined that the College will not take any affirmative action against Luke to prevent him from continuing his studies at the College…I believe that Luke’s return would not cause harm to other students or place other students at any risk.”

The Queenan’s were upset by House’s position and decided to go public with their concerns.

“I felt it was more like a business letter,” John Queenan said. “Even though the accident happened off-campus, in some sense I was putting him in their care. I did not like the tone of the letter.”

When reached by telephone Tuesday, President House was unwilling to make a statement. However, when asked if the college was legally bound to allow Chouinard to return, he said, “that was not the case.”

Although Chouinard referred questions to his lawyer, in a recent phone conversation, when asked if he plans to return to Saint Joseph’s, he said, “I won’t confirm or deny.”

Chouinard’s lawyer Leonard Sharon says “it’s important for Luke as part of his healing to go back and hold his head up.”

Sharon said that it’s up to the discretion of the college to determine whether Chouinard should come back.

The only apology the Queenan’s have ever received from Chouinard was the verbal one required by the court. This failure to express remorse has added to the Queenan’s pain and frustration.

“Luke has never contacted us other than what he had to do,” said John Queenan. “He never sent a note to say sorry.”

But, when questioned, Sharon said he had advised his client against it. He felt it would present a problem because Chouinard was “not permitted to have contact” with the Queenans.

Saint Joseph’s chaplain, Father John Tokaz, knows Chouinard well from his weekly visits with him in jail. He says Chouinard is deeply remorseful but his inexpressible grief has rendered him silent, which some have interpreted as a lack of regret

“He sort of shut down,” Father John said. “He still is and will be terribly sorrowful for the rest of his life. I think he would like to express this the best way he can. I think he was trying to be sensitive to the parents. His life has been deeply, deeply impacted by this terrible event.”

Father John believes Chouinard should return to the Catholic college. Before his conviction, Chouinard had completed his freshman year there, making friends who were supportive.

“He served his sentence, paid his debt to society,” said Father John. “In Catholic terms, he’s done his penance. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t come back.”

The Queenan’s have understandably had a difficult time dealing with the loss of their only son. To aid in their recovery, they participate in the Manchester, NH chapter of Compassionate Friends.

John Queenan says that a lot of teens in their area have altered their driving habits as a result of the accident. He wants people to become more aware of the responsibility a driver faces with passengers in the vehicle.

And he has a message for parents everywhere: “With our jobs there’s not enough time to do everything in a day. It’s so important to spend time with family. My garage is full of stuff but all the stuff in the world means nothing if you don’t have your family. Spend time with your kids. Just make sure you put the time in and don’t put things off.”

The parents of a St. Joseph’s College student killed in a car accident are upset that the college is allowing the driver responsible for the crash readmission to the school.

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