Respected e-swagger coach dies at age of 29
I meet a lot of people. I interact with even more. I’m an avid member of a network of bloggers, a twitter-er, and a 
blogger. Underneath it all, I’m just a writer trying to make it along with everyone else. That being said, I’m ridiculously critical of my own writing. I’m even more critical of others. There aren’t many people whose writing I can actually get through without forcing myself to read it. I know. I’m a literary snob.
Despite this often annoying habit, there is a selected number of people who’s writing I instantly fall in love with, and am always craving more from them. If someone writes well, it doesn’t matter what they’re writing about, or if it’s something I have interest in, if they write well, I love it. It’s few and far between that I encounter someone of this skill that can bring out the fan girl in me.
Sean White was one of those people.
I “met” Sean via MySpace about 2 1/2 years ago. I received a message from him that said “Read my Blog.” My little heart melted because, well, blogging wasn’t too widespread at that point. I blogged, but no one else that I knew did. I read his blog, left a comment, and revisited a few days later. He hadn’t commented on my comment, in which I asked him a question. I sent him an e-mail and told him who was boss: ME. We bickered, bantered, and fell in our own form of love that consisted of shared music interests, love of beer, Irish Heritage, and most importantly, respect and caring.
I turned him onto moving his blog to another platform other than MySpace. I believed so much in his writing, and knew that he could gain more from networking amongst other Bloggers in his same niche. He joined Twenty Something Bloggers, we started a joint blogging effort, he let me layout his blog.
We’d spend many-a nights sitting online, or on the phone chatting, insulting each other, and taking verbal hits. At the end of the day, I always knew that if there was anything that I needed, Sean would be a go-to person for me. There aren’t many people in my life that I trust. (I’ll take Mommy-Daddy Issues for $1000, Alex). I trusted Sean.
When I started writing for e-swagger, Thomas Gemkow asked me if I knew of anyone else who might want to write. My mind went right to Sean. He was a self proclaimed “expert” at dating, and I wanted nothing more than to see his thoughts on “paper”. Maybe it was a little selfish, but who wouldn’t want the “Master’s Big Secrets”?
“From the minute I started talking with Sean about joining the e-swagger team, I instantly fell in love with his style,” said Gemkow.
I never worried about Sean. If nothing else, he was a survivor. He’d had countless broken ribs, and fractured bones from numerous late-night shenanigans. In the end he was always okay, and always came out laughing. Sean had dreams of publishing a book of his often-crazy, always entertaining life. I feel privileged to know a few extra things that he wanted that we had discussed. He wanted to fall in love. He wanted children. He wanted to be successful, well-known, respected, and loved.
Sometime in the last 5 days, Sean White, our wonderful friend and fellow e-swagger coach passed away. Though the details are being ironed out, the sad truth of it all is that he’s gone.
We won’t be doing guest blogs anymore. He won’t be writing for e-swagger any more. I won’t roll my eyes in anticipation for the debauchery that he’d be blogging about next. I won’t get phone calls asking me “what the hell is wrong with my layout?”
Sean, the only thing that makes this a happy time is that I know you’re no longer in pain or emotional turmoil. I know you never settled down, got married and had children like you wanted to. However, your dream of being successful, well-known, respected, and loved was lived—Even if just via a girl from Jersey who you loved to insult.
I hate the word “Love” and I never use it. However, this post wouldn’t be as poignant and true to my heart if I wasn’t a little transparent. In the name of friendship and camaraderie, I’m letting that guard wall down just a moment. Though I’m certain Sean is saying something like “Katie, knock that crap off. Just call me an idiot, and let’s be done with it.”
Our friendship was a true example of the great people one can meet by being swag-tastic, and up on their communication skills.
Sean, I love you. Always have, always will. You will be truly missed by me and the entire e-swagger team.
For those of Sean’s Family and Friends visiting this page, please share memories of Sean that you have. Good ones, funny ones, whatever. I’d LOVE to hear what laughter and memories he’s left with you.
Continue to check out this site, as we will be updating it with notification of funeral arrangements for Mr. Sean White.
|
About Katie: Katie is a twenty-five year old professional blogger and freelance project manager. Nothing about her screams "I'm an expert at the "Game of Life - Relationships Edition". In fact, here's the kicker, she's 100% single and has been for over a year. Currently on her roster of previous "opponents" is a man 15 years her senior, a college student and future therapist, and a mall security guard. Then there's the random people that she falls in love with. So, exactly where did she get her degree in "Swagger"? Don't judge her by the relationships she's has had in the past, but by the ones she currently has. The majority of her deepest connections are hundreds of miles away and their relationships are based on e-mails, tweets, and facebook messages. She claims to be able to know how a relationship will go with someone based on 3 e-mail / message exchanges. "If I'm not excited to read their e-mails," she says, "then I know that they aren't people that will be in my close circle of contacts. I should want to jump out of my chair and rush to the computer to reply to their e-mail and anxiously await their next one." Katie offers lessons in Swagger for the measly fee of a steak cooked medium and a loaded sweet potato. |
Katie, this was a great tribute. I remember Sean commenting on a post I wrote for a friend’s birthday that no one would do anything like that for him. (http://thedumbestsmartgirlyouknow.blogspot.com/2009/12/cant-seem-to-find-damn-thing-wrong-with.html) I’m glad he was wrong about that. He will indeed be misssed!
Sean’s time with Fanball contributing to the Tampa Bay Lightning blog (http://boltsonice.com) was brief, but his work was always a joy to read. He found a way to captivate the reader and draw them into his posts, offering a great analysis.
While our time with him as an employee was far too short, he will be missed by our network for some time to come.
David Rogers
Fanball.com
Associate Editor / Marketing
I knew Sean through the 20 something bloggers network. One of the few male bloggers who shared my passion for life, and love of the pub. I immensely enjoyed and admired his writing. unbelievable.
I knew Sean… for many years, through good times and bad. There were plenty of both between us. Somehow, he always found humor in all of it. In 7th grade Sean and I were trying to kill each other, literally. I tried to fist fight him in home economics. Mrs. Hennon bribed us to get along for a week with a trip to Pizza Hut if we did. We made it through that week and many years more. He will be missed.
Katie, he spoke very highly of you and considered you a true friend. Thank you for your wonderful tribute.
Well said…this was a wonderful tribute.I always loved to hear Sean’s stories even back in high school when most of what he wrote was still pretty pornographic in nature…(so Sean). I reconnected with Sean on Myspace a few years back and I always loved to hear what he had to say whether it was just a comment he had posted or one of his numerous blogs. He truly was a great writer, with an exceptional mind. He will be missed.
Thank you for this tribute. I read some of his stuff over the past couple of years. He was really proud to share and after being forced to read I will admit that I enjoyed. I met Sean 6 years ago… we would go get beers and wings every Monday that summer, he would make listen to music I didn’t like, call me Dizzy and not (still) tell me why, and just had a great time every time. We would do the most random things and I have some great memories. I regret that after that summer slowly lost touch with him but aim, MySpace and Facebook brought us back to friends. It’s wonderful that his thoughts and theories remain online and that you got him involved in writing beyond MySpace. Thank you and Miss you Sean
I have only know Sean since September, and for a bit of time we were very close. I always loved to hear his stories, and also I relished when he opened up deeply about the world around him. Despite all his talk of “assholeness” he was a very caring, loving, person. The problem he always struggled with was trying to convey that to others without falling out of sink with himself. He always held himself to be this tough, woman chasing man, when really he was the most respectful person to women, and was deeply emotional and soft at heart.
He loved deeply, everyone, but it did not always extend to himself.
What I remember most will be his smile, and his belly -laugh. Also his cooking. A very little known fact is that Sean was one hell of a cook!! His infamous dish was his roast in a crock pot. He was a master at cooking in a crock pot. If I remember his roast recipie, and if he doesn’t come to haunt me, maybe I’ll share it with everyone.
He always said that eating good was one of the most important things people needed to do.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that he has found the answers and peace that he always wanted in life.
I watched him persevere in spite of long odds. He developed a sharp, witty, protective shell that helped him survive the hole this life put him in so early on. We lost a very intelligent man this week. I’m so very sorry.
I met Sean when I was 18, I believe through aol singles. He told me he had NEVER done anything like this before. We went to Fright Fest at Station Square and he tried to convince me he was Canadian. I believed him for about 5 minutes, too. Sean and I became pretty good friends, as I usually do with guys I’m supposed to date. I thought he was absolutely insane but soooo much fun to be around. A few times over the years we didn’t talk because we’re both so thick headed and stubborn that neither one of us could admit to the other we were wrong and apologize and move on. But when we were speaking, oh my goodness the foolishness we got into! I remember being at parties at his Bellevue apartment, watching him do backflips off of his front porch and running into people on the sidewalk with his skateboard just to invite strangers into his home to watch the insanity that always ensued. By the end of the evening they were new friends. Two years ago was the last time I spoke to Sean. We were going through another “episode”. It’s funny too, because the entire week before he passed, he was on my mind. I wanted to call him and tell him that I didn’t hate him and that I missed him. But I didn’t. Because I’m still that same stubborn, pig-headed girl I’ve always been. But, I know that he knew that I dearly cherished the 9 year on and off friendship we had. And I’ll ALWAYS give him credit for getting me into cky and H.I.M. I have an excellent heartagram tat on my back to prove it. Sean shaped part of the person I’ve become now. So, I just want to say….Sean, I love you, I will miss you horribly, and I’m so sorry that I gave up on you. I shouldn’t have walked away for as long as I did, and I hope you can forgive me for being such a “rotten bitch” as you often playfully reminded me. I know you finally found peace with your Gram and you’re just getting things ready for all your friends when we eventually find you again.
Leave your response!
Author Spotlight
Katie Colihan
Website: http://www.e-swagger.com/katieOffical e-Swagger Sponsors
Categories
Swagger Coaches
Video of the day
hot news
Most Commented
Recent Comments