It's really hard to remember a time when Sean wasn't part of our family. During my young middle and high school years, Sean was an incredibly influential and impactful person. To me, he was a friend, teacher, and brother.
When Sean and Amy began dating, I was 12 years old. And, lucky me, I was the younger sister that got to reap the rewards as a tag-a-long on many of their fun adventures. I remember piling up in the back of his black Mustang for so many of these adventures…you know, his beloved Mustang with the backseat windows that wouldn’t roll up once you rolled them down. He took us to see the AIDS quilt when it came to Seattle, to visit the signed Declaration of Independence, the farmer’s market on “the ave”, and to many trips to Zoopas all-you-can-eat salad bars (which complied with his strict no-saturated fat diet).
As a young middle school student, I really struggled with math and history, bombing my tests and feeling overwelmed by the impending failure. Sean sat down with me and broke down these lessons in a way that made it relatable and understandable. He was able to identify ways to make it easier for me to grasp, which ultimately helped me ace my tests.
Then there are all the sweet little memories in between: making home-made bread while adding herbs and spices as we went, introducing me to the music of Ani DiFranco, the peso he gave me that I wore on a necklace everyday until the necklace cord broke, he and Amy taking me out for driving lessons once my parents could no longer bare more white-knuckling, and the family road trip to Colorado to visit his family and see his stomping grounds.
Most recently, during my last visit with him a month or so ago, it was such a neat thing to watch his reactions to his kids. I loved seeing him pump his fist in the air and smile while Aidan was sharing his political stance on the fallout of Roe v. Wade (let’s face it, the Lineaweavers know how to talk politics). I loved seeing him laugh when sharing a story about Cate hiding in the driveway and popping her head out in between the cars to ensure “the coast was clear”. There was also a discussion about the frustrations Amy was facing in getting equipment to help make it a bit easier for her to help care for him. We talked about really advocating for what he needs, but Sean was quick to correct us. He shared how tough Amy is and that “Denver made her hard. She’s not the same Amy that you guys remember”.
I know Sean could be a stinker and it was not easy, but I know that he loved his family.
I will forever miss Sean’s salty, snarky, and brilliant presence. We all love you so much Sean and thank you for being a part of our lives and our family. You will always be a part of our family.
❤️Katie