By Bartholomew Sullivan
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Danny Rohrbough was remembered at his funeral Monday as the boy who held the school door open to let others escape and laid down his life for his friends.

"You know, he might have lived," Grace Presbyterian Church pastor Dwight R. Blackstock told the crowd of more than 1,500 that overflowed the sanctuary and fellowship room and spread to folding chairs outside. "He might have lived if he'd have made a little different choice.

"Yet he chose to stay there and hold the door for others so that they might go out before him and make their way to safety. They made it and Danny didn't."

Blackstock said the 15-year-old's heroic act, "in the last few moments of his life on this Earth, was the kind of thing Jesus holds up as an example to us all. Jesus said, 'Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'

"That's what Danny did."

Rohrbough was one of the first killed in the rampage, and the boy in the green shirt crumpled on the pavement was the first sure sign of the seriousness of the shooting to a nation watching live television.

Friends on Monday remembered a generous, high-spirited "awesome kid" who loved electronics, cooking and his family, and was looking forward to a driver's permit. Herb Petrone called him "a brother to me and a best friend."

His father, Brian Rohrbough, said he was sure his son lives eternally. He ended by saying: "Daniel Lee Rohrbough, in life and in death, I'm proud of you."

Matt Houck, a friend since the seventh grade, said he was honored to speak at Rohrbough's memorial, and read a poem inspired by the Oklahoma City bombing. Then, sheepishly, he offered his own poetic effort after providing the only levity in the 75-minute afternoon service.

"Bear with me, please. I feel kind of stupid and the news is over there," he said to laughter, gesturing toward television cameras at the service. His poem struck a somber tone with the second couplet: "It happened just last Tuesday," he read. "And now it's known as doomsday."

A senior at Columbine High who said his name was Nick was the last to offer a remembrance. He said he didn't have any -- didn't know the freshman; only wished he had known him. Then he nearly broke down, thanking him "for saving my life."

Ministers offered solace based on readings from Isaiah, Psalms 23 and 139 ("Even the darkness is not dark to You"), the gospel story of Lazarus, and Romans 8 ("Who will separate us from the love of Christ?").

Blackstock prayed for peace and quiet and a respite, at least briefly, from the haunting images of last Tuesday. The last of the mental pictures he painted was of Rohrbough -- "the image of a young man lying on a sidewalk just outside the school building."

"My prayer is that all the students who were able to get out because Danny held the door don't feel guilty about that. Thank God, and thank Danny."