2020 dealt another blow with the loss of our dear friend Sean Mitchell to brain cancer.
I met Sean almost right away when he started at Microsoft. We were on the Microsoft Works team together, starting in August 1988, and hung out together, playing early PC video games after work. Once Sean met Elizabeth, the four of us had some wonderful adventures, including a road trip to San Francisco early on and a wonderful tour of Scotland.
An actor and singer from his Stanford days, Sean performed with the a capella group Baud Boys, and in theater productions during his Microsoft stint. Later, Sean could often be found performing and directing in Second Story Rep productions, recording podcasts and singing in holiday choral groups. A natural teacher, Sean taught Visual Basic and debugging skills on contract at Microsoft, as well as being a TEALs volunteer, teaching high school computer science in the region. Always willing to step up, Sean served on the boards of The Little School and Eastside Prep, staying involved with his kids’ education and helping ensure the success of many other students.
A small bubble of our family happiness is centered around the time we convinced the Mitchells to move across the street from us in Bellevue! Bruce remembers how great it was that Grant was right across the street, and didn’t want to move. We have many, many memories of shared celebrations, like an early holiday party, hosted by Sean’s parents, Bruce & Carol, in which Liz was 9 months pregnant. In their honor, our boy is named after Sean’s dad, as our Bruce was due on their Bruce’s birthday.
Sean was less about being a great guy and more about helping people grow. His sense of adventure and love of teaching and contributing came through in everything he did. He stayed with the Works team when it was too hard for me and I left. He was on the board of multiple schools when I took the easy tech/volunteer way out. I went to a talk on TEALs about teaching CS in high schools, and though I was excited, it was Sean that carried through a good idea into real results — and it wasn’t an easy journey.
Looking back I’m so thankful that Sean didn’t come back to work at Microsoft. We toyed with the idea multiple times (and I had a position open for him almost constantly), but he kept finding new challenges and opportunities to contribute/teach/coach and engage with the family that kept pushing the idea out…just naturally.
Our chats about future trips and where to retire abruptly ended in late June 2019. After a few weeks of morning headaches, being more forgetful and more late for things, Sean missed our Monday Pilates workout, reporting instead he was at the hospital with “head issues”. An MRI confirmed it was a tumor and Sean had surgery Tuesday. After a tense 5 hour procedure, Sean amazing us all, home Wednesday evening, with no ill effects besides a wicked looking scar! Post-surgery analysis revealed our worst fears: glioblastoma multiforme. Sean worked through follow-up treatment, emerging well with a solid period of health, which meant he could pursue driving (in his Fiat Spider), travel (Ireland and family in LA) and skiing (Beaver Creek with his Stanford mates, brother and me in Feb 2020).
After that solid run, the tumor was back, sadly as expected, in March this year, with more treatment and recovery. Despite the pandemic lockdown, Sean and I formed a bubble, walking daily through Sean’s local neighborhood. A hilly forest walk, this was a good challenge from the beginning, and was adjusted to match as Sean’s balance and power were impacted by the tumor. Sean continued walking right through, with just the length and helper system changing, as Sean adapted to his condition. It was a small silver lining to have this structure when so much of normal life was disrupted due to Covid-19.
Sean’s older kids, Grace and Grant, both moved back home as soon as they could. Grace came from a teaching job in Russia, leaving behind most of her possessions; Grant drove straight up from California, where he was working in technology. With his youngest son Gus working through junior year of high school, and Elizabeth working from home, they were all together for the spring and summer. During the last few months, Sean’s sister, brother, and mom were also able to visit, and we helped with logistics and safety, masking up and helping with rides.
Despite the complications of the pandemic, Sean’s immediate family was able to attend a memorial service for him in Bellevue. Our hearts go out to the whole family — Elizabeth, Grace, Grant, and Gus; his mother Carol, siblings Jenny & George, and everyone else who feels Sean’s loss.