Wow all of this is so great to hear...I suffer everyday thinking about my brother and to read all the positive comments make me feel so warm inside I am glad you guys shared all your memories with me it really means a lot
Xoxo much love
Lyndsey (his sister)
Shawn was an incredible person. Through all his struggles, he always was a glass full type of guy. I always admired his devotion to Phish.
I'll never forget the first time I met him. He showed up at my apartment early afternoon, on July 3rd, 2010. A few other paugers were over at my place. We had all (Shawn included) gone to the show the night before in Charlotte. We missed Shawn though. He was always going in early to the shows to snag and secure a good spot on in the venue. I forgot where he stayed on 7/2/10. But he showed up early afternoon, on 7/3. With his condition he was never much of a talker. We shook hands, discussed last nights show, and shortly afterward he departed to head to the venue again.
Phish fans always get the perception of being drugged out degenerates. Your brother was always what defied that stereotype. He was a kind soul, with a very open heart, always willing to help and share. He was there for the music. And the music only. All the other bullshit, he always ignored. His passion ignited and inspired him to travel and traverse across this great country for the sole cause of being enlightened by live music.
2010 and 2011 he crashed at my apartment for the Atlanta runs. In 2011, I remember him showing up at some ungodly hour in the wee hours of the morning, he had driven straight through from PA to Atlanta. A truly impressive stint of driving. You could sense he had physical pain, but he never talked about it or burdened anyone else with it. Again, a truly noble and respectable approach to living.
I think my favorite memory though. Shawn, myself, and a few others got a hotel room for 12/31 and 1/1 for the 2010 New Years Eve run. We stayed at the Hotel Penn. For whatever reason, I ended up with Shawn at some pub down the road from our hotel. He was meeting up with people from a different message board. The reactions though. Exactly the same as here. It's quite telling that as individual he was loved universally. People watching as strangers from the web put his face to his internet persona (which was the exact same as real life) and having the revelation, that Shawn was Shawn. An awesome person to get a beer with and discuss Phish. A loving person, with a thirst for life, and live music.
He's def missed. I'm also super grateful I got to know him and spend some time with him.
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