I am sorry to have to report that Shawn Fitzpatrick was killed in a car accident on December 19, 2010. I’m sure that everyone who lived in Collins while Shawn was there (maybe 1990-1994?) will remember him fondly as the red-haired, always-friendly math enthusiast and skateboarder who was always excited about some sort of new idea, whether it was designing a multi-level Star Trek-inspired chess board, learning German or figuring out how to play “Maple Leaf Rag.”
After graduation, Shawn received a language teaching certificate and then moved to Japan, where he taught for several years. This is where he met his wife Shigemi, and became the extremely proud father of a little boy, Rick, who is now about four years old. About three years ago the family came to the US, where Shawn enrolled in the MA program in Teaching English as a Second Language at University of Illinois, Urban-Champaign. He recently completed his degree, and this past semester had started teaching at Gainesville State College in Oakwood, Georgia. It seemed like he was really excited to start this new chapter in his life, and to share it with his family.
If you would like to send a condolence message to his mom Brenda (now Ms. Brenda Erdell) or to Shigemi and Rick, please either contact me (at mfcappie at hotmail.com) or Shawn’s friend Neil Wilson (at acht_zuendkerzen at yahoo.com) for the address.
-- MF Cappiello
