SHEEHAN, Skylar James
Skylar James Sheehan, 20, of White Rock BC, died unexpectedly on Monday April 18th due to heart complications. He was born at Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock BC, April 18th 1996. The day of his passing was also his 20th birthday. He was a resident of White Rock, BC his entire life except for a year of study at the University of Calgary. He attended Peace Arch Elementary from kindergarten until grade seven. There he made several friendships that would shape him and also last the rest of his life. Skylar had various interests as a pre-teen such as lacrosse, baseball, music & playing with friends. However, basketball soon became his passion. Skylar enrolled in grade 8 at Semiahmoo Secondary School in the fall of 2010. Instantly making many friends with his peers and could often be found alone in the high school gymnasium shooting baskets at all hours of the day and night. Generosity, hard work, loyalty and a love for basketball would define his character, and those traits were easily distinguishable to everyone around him. One fond memory while in his early days at Semiahmoo was a coach encouraging Skylar to take on rugby mentioning, "Steve Nash played it while in High School". The next day Skylar would be found on the rugby pitch eagerly awaiting practice with his peers. However, this game wasn't his love and he would soon be found back in the gym shooting again at all hours of the day and night. During his time at Semiahmoo Skylar would be a fixture on the Honour Role, had a short stint in the prestigious Semiahmoo band, developed a keen interest in computer studies and grew into an elite athlete. Like many teenage boys, Skylar would discover the weight room where he developed a healthy passion for lifting weights. This coupled with the hours he spent on the basketball court created a massive amount of interest from University basketball coaches. Letters, phone calls, and visits came from the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria, the University of the Fraser Valley, Thompson Rivers University, Trinity Western University, the University of Alberta, and Western Washington University, to name a few. However, it was the University of Calgary Dinos that Skylar choose to attend and was given a full athletic scholarship. Skylar's pride and joy was his family: Dave (father), Kristen (mother) and younger sister Summer.
Skylar's close connection to his family was very evident to all around him. He would often be seen with his sister as he developed a close relationship with her and would take her for walks to the neighborhood store for a treat or walks to White Rock beach. He and his father would share countless hours together in empty gyms and long car rides to the next basketball event sharing their love for each other, and the game. His mother gave him a rarely seen trait of empathy for those in need and the value of healthy living. As per the family request a cremation has taken place. A funeral service will be at Peace Portal Alliance Church 15128 - 27 B Ave on Friday April 29th at 4:00pm. Anyone who knew Skylar or whose life he touched is welcome to come. The family requests anyone attending to wear blue to show support for the community, a story about Skylar you could share with other people and a small donation that will be given to a charity that supports young people in the South Surrey/White Rock area.