By Lori Anne Oliwa | Correspondent

April 10 is a day that St. John Vianney High School junior Chris Rocca, 17, will never forget.

The Holmdel student, who is a member of both the lacrosse and football teams, was returning home from an evening session with his trainer when he noticed a dog running down a busy street in Matawan.

“I thought, what a shame that someone’s dog was running away,” Rocca said. Within a few seconds, he noticed a woman lying on the sidewalk in front of what turned out to be a friend’s house. Rocca sprang into action and ran into the house – home of family friend Nora Kierce – and promptly called 911.

The woman, Aberdeen resident Jane Gleason, 66, was unconscious. Rocca, who had no first aid training, waited at the house until the ambulance came. “She was just lying on the ground. What really struck me was that there were people walking by who never stopped. They must have seen her,” Rocca noted emotionally.

 Rocca and Gleason met for the first time at her request during a small gathering May 8 in the school’s media center. In attendance were Rocca’s parents Patricia and Keith; along with SJVHS principal, Steven C. DiMezza, and president, Joseph Deroba.

Gleason could not say enough about the young man whom she credits with saving her life. After the two embraced upon meeting, Gleason said, “He is my angel. There are not many people like Chris in the world, and he was meant to be there. That day could have been the end if he had not stopped to help me,” Gleason said emotionally.

Rocca of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, was extremely modest about the praise he received. “I’m just glad I was there to help,” he said quietly.

His parents glowed with pride and were a little more vocal about their son’s act of kindness. “He absolutely did the right thing, and we are so proud of him,” they both stated. According to Rocca, Nora Kierce, the homeowner where Gleason fell, was also proud of him. Kierce has three children who graduated from SJVHS.

Gleason, a retired registered nurse who has lived in Aberdeen since 1977, has no memory of the incident and awoke in Bayshore Community Hospital. She spent a few days there then was transferred to Riverview Medical Center, where she remained for several more days. Her last memory is of walking her dog Molly, a toy poodle weighing 7 pounds, prior to fainting. The dog that Rocca noticed running away was Molly, who returned promptly to her owner’s side. “The dog was really shaking,” Rocca noted.

Gleason, who suffered some internal bruising due to falling, explained that she had no symptoms prior to fainting and is still undergoing tests. “I’m feeling better, but I’m still nervous,” she said.

 Rocca, who will be attending American Legion Jersey Boys State this summer, hopes to enter the Naval Academy at Annapolis upon graduation next year.