By Lucy Hurlbut ’14

On Thursday, October 10^th, the hit show “Glee” had its tribute episode called “The Quarterback” in honor of Cory Monteith, who played the inspiring jock Finn Hudson on the show.

Monteith was found dead in a Vancouver hotel July 13. His death has been declared an accident that was due to “mixed drug toxicity, involving intravenous heroin use combined with the ingestion of alcohol” according to the British Columbia Coroners Service.

“Glee” fans were eager to see how Monteith’s death would affect his character Finn Hudson on the show. The episode featured many of the McKinley High students, teachers and alumni, Puck, Mr. Shoe, Santana, Kurt, and last but not least, Rachel Berry, the love of his life in the show and real-life girlfriend. It was a very emotional night for viewers.

Lea Michele and all the people who were close to Monteith have received so much support from fans and family members. “I feel like, for me personally, I’ve lost two people: Cory and Finn,” Michele recently told TV Week Australia. When asked about whether it was difficult to continue filming without Monteith she responded, “it’s no harder at work than it is in life — so we might as well all be together as a family supporting each other to get through this together.”

At the Emmys in September, Jane Lynch, who plays Coach Sue Sylvester on the show, paid tribute to Monteith during a special segment on the awards show.

“Cory was a beautiful soul,” Lynch said. “He was not perfect, which many of us here tonight can relate to. His death is a tragic reminder of the rapacious, senseless destruction that’s brought on by addiction.”