My heart is in pain... SAD news from the Ice House - no gossip please :(

[Arsenette]

I got a call from my friend at the Ice House, New Jersey. A mutual friend of ours A. William Sears - (2002 USFSA Novice Pairs Champion - along with partner Katie Boxwell) has passed away from an apparent brain Aneurysm (http://content.health.msn.com/content/asset/miller_keane_2588)

He was just 21 years old. Apparently he died peacefully in his sleep. I'm so heart wrenched right now but wanted to let everyone know since inexplicably there are rumours already circulating about how he died. I wanted to give respect to him and let everyone know the real story. To this point the family is awaiting a full autopsy before they make the final arrangements. I ask to please keep the entire family in your prayers.. along with all the families of the skaters, family and friends whose lives are deeply affected by this loss.

[LilRedRidingHood]

My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.

[Josef]

Wow, that's terrible. :( He was so young and talented.. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and Katie and her family. :(

[Nickel]

This is very sad news. My heart goes out to his family, his partner Katie and all of his friends. How tragic and so young! I really enjoyed watching this pairs team at the Indy Challenge just a few weeks ago and was looking forward to seeing more of them this season.

[haribobo]

! :( ! This is awful! I just saw Boxwell/Sears at Sectionals this past season and was extremely impressed. I thought they were one of the brightest teams in the future of US Pairs. The team had great and mature presentation, and wonderul spins, lifts, and footwork. This just seems so tragic for Sears to die so young and for Katie to lose such a great partner and good friend. I am in shock.

Thank you for the information, Arsenette. My prayers will go out to all who knew him.

[haribobo]

Here is the USFSA article.

http://www.usfsa.org/news/2002-03/searwill-obit.htm

[Arsenette]

http://www.usfsa.org/uschamp02/harvpics/novpairs2/boxwsear-free.jpg

http://www.usfsa.org/uschamp02/harvpics/boxwsear-short.jpg

These were from the 2002 Championships.

[Jim D]

It is a tragedy, when one so young dies. … Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this most difficult time.

Jim

[speedy]

How tragic and shocking. What else can happen at the Ice House this week? :( I'm sorry to hear this, thanks for explaining it Arsenette.

[Orable]

My prayers are with his family and friends. I hope they will find comfort and peace in these difficult days.

[purplecat]

Oh, that's so sad! :( I had only heard good things about this pair too! :(

[adrianchew]

I'll stick this topic for a bit.

Arsenette - if you think its appropriate, we could take notes from everyone here on this thread, and you can print it out and pass in on to his parents? I'm sure there's people who have seen him skate that would like to express their condolences, and share a comforting word or two with the family.

[michele]

My condolences to his family and Katie...I never saw them skate, but this is tragic news. May he rest in peace. :(

[11yrskate]

Our prayers our with the Sears family and his friends.
We all will miss him terribly. He was a great friend and skater.
:cry:

[Trillian]

A few photos of Will and Katie taken by Michael Skinner at last summer's Indy Challenge can be found at this link.

http://www.justsomeguy.net/indy/boxwell.htm

[Sylvia]

And here are some Cat's Lair photos from 2002 Nationals:

http://www.catslair.com/skating/2002/nationals/pics/nov/pairs/short/boxwellsears.shtml
(short program to Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue")

http://www.catslair.com/skating/2002/nationals/pics/nov/pairs/free/boxwellsears.shtml

This lengthy Boxwell & Sears article/profile was published on the USFSA website earlier in August, before their NACS in Dieppe:
http://www.usfsa.org/news/2002-03/boxwsears-profile.htm

My heart goes out to the families and friends of them both.

[Mayra]

This is such sad news. :( My thoughts and prayers go out to the Sears family and friends.

[Debbie S]

How awful!

I saw them skate at this year's Nats exhibition and I could tell they were a pair to watch for the future. My heart goes out to his family, and Katie.

[chattykathy]

My heart goes out to the Sears Family, Katie Boxwell and her family, and all those close to William. You are in our thoughts and prayers here in Ann Arbor.

[sk8pr1mom]

Hello, Will was a very dear friend for my daughter and I. I met him at one competition when he was around 13 years old. Since then we kept our friendship, we always cross each other path at one competition or another. All I can say is that my heart hurts, is been hurting since I got that phone call yesterday morning, I will never be recieved at the Ice house door by a Mr. S jumping warming up and down smiling at me and saying" Hello Mrs. S, how are you today?" I am not fine today Mr. S I miss you terribly". Did you listen to the music I told you for my daughter's new show program? I know you probably did and I wish you were here to tell me so. but you know what I always told everyone when they lost a loved one, that when God needs a new angel he calls on the best we have and I know he needed some good music edititing in heaven and I feel he got the best we had. I want to thank you for being there when I was very sad because my son could be deployed to fight in Afganistan, You were there again last week when things got a bit rough at the rink, God bless your family and Katie, and all of us, that don't know how to handle the pain our hearts are feeling right now.
Your dear friend,
Mrs. S
:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[CMc]

I'm very sorry this happened. I hope William's family will get through this ok, as well as Katie.

[Aaron W]

My condolences to the family and friends of William Sears. :(

[Leela]

So incredibly SAD... Condolences to all who loved him.

[Tigger]

Such horrible news. My deepest condolences to his family, partner and friends.

[liljimeo]

Last year at the INdy Challenge I was monitoring the Novice Night Practices. All the skaters were very focussed and I really didn't interact with any of them. I didn't expect to talk to any of the skaters, and I certainly didn't expect to actually talk to any skaters during there practices. Well NE how.. . The lady who was coming up to sit in and co-monitor let some pair have too much Ice TIme or something and she also let them practice their Long program instead of short! WHICH IS A BIG NONONO!!! Some Coach from Detroit really dug into us and went down and dug into our advisor. Our Advisor informed him that we didn't have to abide by that rule since this was a Non-Qualifying club event. He was still upset and gave us a hard time... This team came up beside us I think out of sympathy from us being yelled at, and started talking to us. It was Boxwell/Sears. Katie then took off to skate but Will remained for a minute or too. He was such a nice/kind person. To go out of his way during his practice to just be sociable. I took it like he really appreciated what we were doing are whatnot.
Of Course, I was an instant fan and I just new they were going to shoot up in the rankings given that they were such huge, consistent- jumpers.
I remember posting reviews of the INdy Challenge at the old Fsworld and mentioning Boxwell/Sears because of there kindness.
I can't believe this. Man. He was such a young guy with sooo much going for him. I dunno. I can't handle these things very well so I just need to try not to think about it.

[kwanette]

What a tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and partner.

[flo]

:(

[cienicsk8]

I don't really know who this young man was, but I must say I have been so touched by all the things people have written about him here. He must have been so truly special, and my heart goes out to all those who will be missing him:cry:

[NiceIce]

omg I am stunned and just horribly sad to hear this news...I just saw him at INDY, and I am heartbroken.
To all who knew and loved him, you have my heartfelt sympathy . There are no words that can convey how tragic this is.
I am so sorry, just devastated to hear this.

:cry:

[NiceIce]

Watching him at Indy, we all knew we were watching a young man just perfect for skating Pairs.
He had a bold style, and a soulful presentation.
He was already great .
Such a horrible loss, ...
I am just stunned.
my tears are for his wonderful mom, who reached out to other skaters at INDY and encouraged them...we will never forget.

[Spinner]

I'm so sad to hear this. :( I had the pleasure of watching them at 2 Indy Challenges and this past nationals in LA--such a promising team.

Some good news though.....I have it on good authority the USFSA is still going to send Katie her team jacket and/or uniform (not sure which, but she'll get one or both). I thought that was nice.

Spinner

[nutty-ducky]

This is very sad news. :( God bless his family and friends and his skating partner, Katie, and her family. Jesus is going to look after him in Heaven.

[ToddFan]

{{{{{Katie and William's family and friends}}}}} :( How aweful for all of them!

[Greek Chic]

My heart goes out to his family and his partner Katie. How tragic and how young. They will be in my prayers all the time.

Arsenette: If you need to chat about anything PM me and we will chat. Take care.

[dbell]

Our local paper, which rarely covers skating had a wonderful 1/2 page story on him today. They spoke of how his parents are being helped by the memories and stories being passed on to them. As the mom of a 6 year old, my heart breaks for the Sears family and I wish them only happy memories of Bill. He was a remarkable skater and an incredible young man. :cry:

[Arsenette]

This is still very frustrating altogether.. I found this online:

Washington Post Article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59212-2002Sep9.html)

I think what's very frustrating is the fact that at first.. they knew (or thought) why he died.. now.. it's even worse! Will they ever know what happened to Ariel?