Gregarious, witty, loving, generous, creative
Sean was a generous, loving, hardworking, and charismatic man. Sean grew up in Vermont with his mother, Kimberly, father, Tim, and younger brother, Ned. The two boys loved building with Legos and played countless games of Monopoly and Risk. Tim and Sean shared a love of music, and the family enjoyed bowling, golf, and travel, making many cherished memories together.
From a young age, Sean played the oboe, sailed with his high school sailing club, and was co-captain of the South Burlington High School Ski Team. He attended Champlain College and the Community College of Vermont. He later considered clerking his way to becoming an attorney, which is possible in Vermont.
Sean loved the water, so it seemed fitting that he joined the Navy. He wanted to cook while in the service, but he scored so highly on the entrance exam that he was trained to be an electrician on submarines and graduated from submarine school. Unfortunately, because of his substance use, he eventually lost his position in the Navy, later working in many Burlington restaurants, using his exceptional, self-taught cooking talents.
Family and tradition were deeply important to Sean. He treasured summer trips to the family camp in Canada, where he sailed and skied. Kimberly recalls one Christmas morning when she was called into work for several hours; when she returned home, Sean had waited patiently, making his brother wait as well, so they could open presents together as a family.
Sean was engaged to be married twice, deeply in love both times, but his disease and mental health caused pain for both him and his loved ones. It also landed him in jail for misdemeanor charges, where he developed an interest in improving the carceral system.
Sean had a vibrant, gregarious spirit and a unique ability to get along with everyone. He maintained friendships with many young people from Chile who spent summers working in Vermont and had many close local friends who shared stories after Sean’s death about his desire to help others. Friends and family remember his wit, charm, and humor, and his love of music, writing, and poetry.
Regrettably, Sean’s illness stole his pride and steeped him in cycles of shame. “It’s a terrible loss,” Kimberly said. “Sean was so full of promise; he deserved better.” She emphasizes the need for better treatment and less stigma and shame around substance use disorder.
The loss of Sean to the family and his community is immeasurable. Kimberly reflects, “When you lose a child, you lose all the future you imagine. They don’t get married or have a family. It just aches, the missing of someone who meant so much to our family. It never goes away. Mostly, you’re heartbroken that they never found recovery; the loss is immense.” In death, Sean continued to give-as an organ donor, he saved the lives of four people.
Sean’s mother, Kimberly Blake, provided the information for this narrative.
March 22, 1990-August 4, 2017-Age 27
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
