The late Tyler McCloskey. Photo by his brother, Reilly.
The Tredyffrin and Conestoga communities are mourning yet another young life tragically lost.
Tyler McCloskey, 22, died of an apparent heroin overdose over the weekend.
Tyler was the younger brother of Reilly McCloskey, the 2010 Stoga grad/photographer who only a few weeks ago shared his own addiction struggles with SAVVY Main Line.
Reilly and his fun-loving younger brother, Tyler, in happier days.
Two years behind his brother at Stoga, Tyler was found unresponsive in his mother’s Wayne home Sunday afternoon.
“We’re all numb,” said Susan Randels, Tyler’s stepmother and the owner of the Paoli boutique, Polka Dots. “He should have been in rehab [again] but he wouldn’t go,” Randels told SAVVY. “We were all waiting for a phone call [like this]; he had it so bad. Even with his friends dying, nothing clicked through to him to make him want to stop.”
Fearing his brother would accidentally OD, Reilly begged Tyler to go to rehab. “He told him he had a bed [in rehab] for him,” Randels recalled, but Tyler refused, telling Reilly, “I just want to get high.”
Five of Tyler’s close friends have died of heroin overdoses.
“This has to stop; it’s ridiculous,” Randels said. “How many kids in their early 20s have to die?”
Tyler would be clean and sober for two months then relapse, his stepmother said. “He could never make it past two months.”
She blames no one for Tyler’s death. “How can you babysit a 22-year-old?”
Excited to start a new job at PacSun in the mall, Tyler had recently “cleaned himself up and shaved and then he went on a bender,“ she said.
“People don’t understand how heroin works,” Randels said. “It takes over. It gets inside your head; it talks to you. It tells you that you want it.”
Adding to the danger is the toxic stuff that heroin’s often laced with. “There’s such bad stuff out there,” she warned.
Young people accidentally OD because they stay off it for a while, and when they relapse, they think their bodies can handle the same amounts they were accustomed to.
Ask any cop or recovery specialist: Addicts aren’t out to die; they just want to get high.
Tredyffrin Police Chief Tony Giaimo says OD deaths are trending downward but opiate/heroin addiction remains a major issue in his township and in townships across the state.
His stats:
- Tredyffrin had 17 opiate (“largely heroin”) ODs in 2013 with 3 deaths.
- In 2014: 14 ODs and five deaths.
- In 2015: 9 ODs and two deaths.
He says having his force carry Narcan, which revives opiate overdoses, has helped cut the death rate. He says, too, that his force is aggressively going after area suppliers. Usually cops can trace an addict’s favorite dealer through his/her cell phone. “We’re turning the tide, which is great, but two deaths last year is two too many.”
“There’s a great deal of over-prescribing going on,” Giaimo says, with docs writing scrips for oxycontin after even minor oral surgery. Oxy and other opiates lead to addiction, which leads to the cheap heroin bag that’s just a short ride away in Kensington (or closer). Eighty percent of heroin users started with opioid pain meds, according the the CDC.)
Still, Narcan and dealer arrests didn’t save Tyler McCloskey, the “sweet and amazing little boy” who would eagerly climb inside kitchen cabinets to help his stepmom clean them.
They didn’t save his lost friends who knew how to revive each other but, tragically, couldn’t revive themselves.
And they didn’t save all the would-be Tylers out there, in Tredyffrin and beyond, who refuse rehab, who run away, who steal from their own parents and their neighbors, who sell their souls even, to fuel that next unholy high.
“Tyler had a big personality and a million friends,” his stepmother said. He started doing drugs in high school and never really stopped. “Once you do it, it takes over your life,” she said.
Randels is grateful for one thing; the heroin stigma is just about gone. “It used to be that you’d think that anyone who did heroin was disgusting,” she said. “Now people are finally admitting it’s in their families.”
(What she could have said, too, is that it’s families like hers and the Deckers in Gladwyne who are bravely paving the way.)
Randels said she and her husband, Jim McCloskey, who is Tyler and Reilly’s father, will start going to meetings for the parents of addicts at Rosemont’s New Leaf Club. “The only thing we can do as a family right now is see if we can help someone else going through this.”
A loving memorial service for Tyler McCloskey was held April 6 at Wayne Presbyterian Church. The church overflowed with mourners. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tyler’s name may be made to the E. Chelsea Campbell Memorial Foundation. Chelsea, also a Conestoga student, died from a heroin overdose in 2005 at age 18. The foundation supports young people in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. 
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In much, much brighter news: The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville is about to shape shift and swell – sort of like “The Blob” in the sci-fi flick for which it’s best known.
Not only will the shabby-chic old gal get a facelift and major body work (once a Vaudeville hall, she’s 113 years young, after all), but she’s also making bold, frisky moves next door, adding two new, more intimate theatres, a lovely rooftop terrace (city views!), a gorgeous, spacious skylit lobby and skywalk, a legit concession counter and a grab-bag of behind-the-scenes gizmos.
A rendering of the spacious new lobby, relocated to the bank building.
“Bank on the Arts” is what they’ve dubbed phase an $8 million capital campaign (the 11,000 sq. ft. neighbor was a once a bank).
But we’re calling it a Total Body Takeover/Makeover – has more of a sci-fi ring, no?
Whatever you call it, it’s a hugely ambitious project. The BIGGEST in the theatre’s long and storied history.
The Association for the Colonial Theatre, aka ACT (the nonprofit that owns the theatre) expects the completed expansion will triple its patrons in three years. Cue “Bravos!” from downtown restaurants and shops.
Better yet: Roomy new digs mean the Colonial can host more live acts, say 70 to 100 concerts a year, up from the current 20. They’re talking jazz, country and classical shows, in addition to the mostly 60s and 70s rock acts they’ve been hosting, Exec. Director Mary Foote tells SAVVY.
Best yet: When all three theaters are up and running, the Colonial will show a lot more first-run independent films. So if the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI) is a haul or isn’t showing your flavor flick, you get a Plan B, in a cute town, to boot.
Also in the offing: An application for a performing arts beer and wine license. Liquid gold right there, folks.
A good sign: Nearly $5 million of the $8 million campaign has already (quietly) been raised. Nice.
Star power: Honorary campaign chairs are The Bacon Brothers, Kevin and Michael, aka the bros who semi-saved the theatre’s bacon nine years ago when they raised $37K to build a special events/screenings/classes space on the theatre’s third floor.
Fun facts: The ACT bought the historic landmark bank building five years ago – a steal at $700,000 – from a cash-strapped newspaper chain (surprise, surprise).
The bank building (at 225 Bridge St.) was built one year before Bryn Mawr’s 1926 Seville Theatre, reincarnated as BMFI. Here’s hoping Phoenixville’s film future burns as brightly as Bryn Mawr’s.
Less fun: Foote tells SAVVY the original, turn-of-the-century theatre, will likely close for four months to allow for extensive renovations when Phase 2 rolls around. No surprise ’cause facelifts always mean down time.
Here’s how to show ’em you’re psyched for the bigger, better, but still historically cool Colonial:
- Show up at the free, public campaign kickoff on Tuesday, April 5 at 5 pm. (Speeches then free food from local restaurants.)
- Or send them some cash.
- Or pay to have something named after you – $2,000 buys your name on one of 61 seats in the lower-level Luxe Theatre. Fork over $1.5 million and the new, 174-retractable-seat Experimental Theatre has your name on it.
The new luxe theatre will be used for intimate shows, events and screenings.
- Or show up at a Colonial Theatre “an open house cultivation event” in your neighborhood.
- Or just stay in the know. Visit their website, check out the capital campaign’s new micro website or reach out to development associate [email protected].
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Out of sight, poof and they’re gone!
Our Week in Crazy: First a couple of loonies try to steal a dog from an Ardmore man’s front yard, dognapping apparently being a thing in Montco of late. Or so say the anonymous warning signs posted around town. (Beware tan sedans rollin’ round your neighborhoods, folks.)
Then, an infant is snatched from his stroller at the K of P mall Thursday night. The Amber Alert sounds far and wide, and police find the lady ’napper and abducted babe in an apartment above a Wayne barbershop – Thornton’s Barbershop at 932 Upper Gulph Rd. in the Wayne panhandle, to be specific.
It’s legit now but when it was the Heads Up Hair Studio, it was a front for a huge cocaine trafficking ring. When the news broke last Friday, the owners of Thornton’s posted this on Facebook:
But wait, it gets worse (like, National Enquirer-worse): The 32-year-old kidnapper turns out to be the daughter of GOP bigwig Renee Amoore. An accomplished lady and speaker, she’s deputy chair of the PA Republican Party, owns the Amoore Group in King of Prussia and is frequently feted by civic and philanthropic groups.
Meanwhile, back at the jail, sits Renee Amoore’s daughter, Cherie, after she failed to post $500K bail. She claims she was heartsick over having lost her own baby (alleged to have been born in February) and impulsively lifted the baby from the stroller of a woman she had just befriended at the mall. Five hours later, Cherie Amoore, was found with 7-week old Ahsir Simmons, freshly bathed and PJ-ed in her Wayne panhandle apartment. Cherie was in a relationship with the guy who lived in the apartment above the barbershop.
No word on why her mother called her Cherie Amoore, but those Stevie Wonder lyrics sure give pause. It’s as if she were living out the song: “Pretty little one that I adore … how I wish that you were mine.”
I typically enjoy a juicy Savvy Main Line post. This, however, read in poor taste.
Rest in peace, Tyler.
Just wanted to let you know, StogaGrad, that I know this family personally. Susan, the stepmother, reached out to me with the news last night. We discussed it in detail this morning. She wants people to understand the disease of addiction, how young lives like Tyler’s can be obliterated by the quest for the next high. It’s a tragic, heartbreaking story that both of us feel must be told.
How can a story trying to save lives POSSIBLY be in bad taste, Stoga Grad? I applaud step mom Susan, who obviously loved this boy like her own blood son and Caroline for sensitively presenting this story.
My thoughts go out to Reilly, Tyler’s brother, who needs our prayers and concern now to stay strong with the loss of his brother.
Even if Tyler had gone to rehab, there would be been no guarantee he’d emerge healthy and clean. Insurance is a joke (not paying adequate benefits on the first or second visit because patients won’t get better until later confinements, in their opinion)and too many facilities are focused on profit, rather than healing. And, I’m talking about you, Re+&eat in PA.
So very sorry to all of the McCloskey family and the Conestoga Community at large…may we all continue to attend to the need for substance abuse education and foster a setting of fearless triumph over the world of addiction. Peace and Prayers
Thank you for sharing a family’s heartbreak – wishing all involved peaceful days -especially Tyler’s brother who has worked so hard to turn his life around while trying to help his brother-our community weeps!
In the same post, you had me laughing out loud -thanks for your gift to do both!
I am brokenhearted by this devastating story. It should be a wake up call to all of us (especially parents) how real heroin addictions are in our community. So tragic after hearing about his brother’s uplifting story posted a few weeks ago in SAVVY. The more we spread the word, the more we can be aware and hopefully step in before it is too late. I am sending heartfelt sympathy to Tyler’s family, friends and to those who have lost someone to addiction.
What a beautiful picture. What a beautiful tribute from brother to brother. These children need so much support. They too often don’t have it. The support needs to come from family, teachers and the community. Too many children fall through the cracks.
Yes, Reilly is a wonderful communicator – both through his photography and his words. His tribute to Tyler took my breath away.
How coincidental is it that I literally just posted this comment in the last article written by Savvy….
Let’s please take a look at what the real problem at Stoga is…not to change the subject but how many of you parents as students remember attending funerals of classmates? Maybe one if any at all…Correct? I as a parent in the last 3 years accompanied my children and their friends to four…yes four funerals of Conestoga students! Wow! This in my opinion is more of an issue and something that would definitely be more of a priority than hear say or false accusations. The proof is seeing the sorrow and grief of the parents, family and friends that lost their loved ones to drugs…Opps did I say drugs? Please stop pushing this under the rug and open your eyes!! All I can say is the coaches at Stoga view our students as their own and would never set out to harm our children!!
I will yet again accompany my children to the fifth funeral of another Stoga graduate. A young life taken way to soon This breaks my heart. Please wake up Stoga before it’s to late!! This is a horrible epidemic that needs to be addressed stop pretending there is no problem…our schools reputation has already been tarnished in the past couple of months with the sexting scandal and the hazing accusations. In trying to protect the schools wonderful reputation wonderful children are dying from drugs. Yes, I’m sure on paper you can probably look to see if any drugs were found in the past drug searches (they happen often). Amazingly it’s minimal if any….I cringe every time I hear this. Who is tipping off the students of a drug search? Could it be an internal source? There has to be a way to save these children because like Tyler’s step-mother said it all started in high school. I truly believe this is where it begins. I will continue to hope for the best outcome or answer to this dilemma.
In the meantime I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to Tyler’s family and friends.I am truly sorry.
Tyler’s death is so tragic Th curse of addiction continues but this is the first premature loss and I pray this is the last one. My heart breaks for al l
Of Bill’s family whom I have known and loved
for the last 16 years Margie McC
The drug use at Conestoga is at epic proportions. Many students start with their parents painkillers and move on from there. My son went to Stoga and was always pointing out who he thought would die of and overdose. The school willfully ignores the issue because it would make them look bad.
This a tragic loss of one of my sons friends. These children are so overwhelmed with the world we have set up for them. We need to communicate with them. We need to let them know they are not alone.
I find it disturbing that the step-mom states he was 22 years old & you can’t have a babysitter for him…. really? As a parent, yes YOU have the responsibility to train & teach your children what is right & wrong. The main line parents are missing too often from their children’s lives – more often than not. Until parents start realizing
“parenting” is being involved in your kids lives these problems will continue to exist.
Renee – I believe you misunderstood the “babysitter” reference. What Susan stated was, “How can you babysit a 22-year-old?” Meaning, as an adult Tyler had the legal right to make his own decisions. Regardless of how badly we may want to protect our adult children, we cannot hold them hostage. Nor can we force them into seeking treatment. Furthermore, addiction is not an issue of right or wrong – it is a genetically predisposed disease. Sickle-cell and Tay-Sachs are also genetic diseases…you would never say these diseases contain a right or wrong aspect would you Renee? I’m sure that you did not mean to come off as judgmental or snarky. Perhaps your statements were made without a full understanding of how painful it is to witness a loved one in the depth of an addiction. I’m sure the next time you post something publically, you will first consider how hurtful your words maybe to others.
Thank you to the McCloskey’s for sharing Tyler’s story. It’s so important to start this conversation about the opiate epidemic we have in this area and nationally. The epidemic in our area has touched many people’s lives be it family, friend, acquaintance. The starting point to ‘doing something about this problem’ is talking about it, accepting addiction as a disease and not a choice, educating and protecting yourself and your family and know you are not alone. There is help for the addict and the family as addiction is a family affair.
I am so heartbroken by yet another death in our community but someone who was near and dear to my heart.
Tyler will be greatly missed by so many people. He was and will always remain an amazing individual in my mind & heart.
I grew up in the same area, attended the same school, and have personally been attending my friend’s funerals for the past 17 years. Knowing Tyler and his entire family for more than half my life, my heart is truly broken, but I know he is in a better place now. Unfortunately, this is not an issue new to Tredyfferin area or anywhere else for that matter. For those who do not understand that addiction is a DISEASE, allow me to clarify– Tyler and countless other people were/are suffering everyday from what is medically documented as a DISEASE called ‘addiction’. Both the McCloskey and Randels families are amazing people and great parents. They are correct — you can’t babysit and protect your children forever.
Tyler’s as well as everyone else suffering, demons are their own. Sadly there is no way to make someone else stop – even if they, themselves want to. These and many other issues need to be addressed far more than they currently are. Just because there are less overdoses now does not mean that there is less drug use, simply less deaths. While less deaths are a great thing, people continue to be ignorant of the issue and should educate themselves. There are countless other people and families who are affected by this disease everyday. Please, before you give an opinion on an issue you do not fully understand — Remember these are people who lost a loved one and are suffering tremendously.
I love you, Tyler. I love the rest of your family as if they were my own and I always will. You made this world a better place and I hope you are at peace now.
Thank you for that loving tribute to Tyler and his family. I am glad you emphasized addiction is a DISEASE. It’s clear that while OD deaths in this township are down, heroin use is not. I just learned of another heroin OD death – a 22 year-old like Tyler who attended a local private high school. This is an epidemic.
I am so sorry for this families’ loss. With my oldest starting at Stoga in the fall, I am concerned to hear there is a big drug problem and it is ignored by admin! I have already talked with him about drugs and the consequences. I am working to keep the lines of communication open, know his friends and their parents, and stay engaged with all. I have no painkillers in my house. What else can we do? Any and all advice to the parents of those entering these challenging years is very welcome.