Honoring Shane Golden: Support His Legacy

Shane was killed in a motorcycle accident when he was struck by a drunk driver on Wednesday, March 12.

Nothing can change that. It hurts. In life, there are people who change the world by force of will, others by genius. The dearest, most crucial, are people who change lives with their touch and presence. These are the people who effortlessly make things better just by being. Shane was one of those people. He changed lives wherever he went. He enriched others simply by being himself. In military jargon, Shane was a force multiplier.

Shane’s passions in life—besides his life partner, Parker, and their chunky dog, Cortana—were his friends, motorcycles, gearhead mechanics, racing anything for any reason, donkeys, and innocence. Children adored Shane. He played, and I mean really played. But if you’re here reading this, you already knew that.

As the continuous flow of people gathered to share their grief, support broken dreams, and echo our best Shane-isms, the enormity of his world became clear. Shane was loved and respected by everyone he met. His footprint in his community is large and deep. The most common comment from those I’ve spoken with in the past days has been, “You know, we were best friends.” That’s the beauty of Shane. If he knew your name, you were instantly one of his best friends. He made you feel that way because it was sincere.

The second most common comment has been, “We need to do something. He was too important to us to just let him pass and fade away.” So this is it. We don’t know exactly how or what, as the reality of missing him is still too raw. What we do know is that we want to create a memorial or endowment that reflects Shane’s unique sincerity of spirit and balance in life. It may be a youth dirt bike program or an endowment for a wildlife sanctuary for donkeys. As this fundraising campaign progresses, Shane’s immediate family and loved ones will work on a plan to ensure any funds raised are used in a way that carries forward the light of Shane’s heart, so that it doesn’t fade from this world but continues to benefit others.

Give if you can. If you can’t, please don’t. Shane would want you to take care of your needs and those around you first. We promise, the funds will be used in ways that are meaningful, impactful, and would have made Shane proud.

Thank you all for your support in the loss of an exceptional man.

This page was organized by Tod Seibold at the request of his daughter, Shane's life partner, Parker Seibold.