I met Shawn many years ago at Robert Half. I was an intern, still in college, oblivious to the fact that my days would soon boil down to emails and spreadsheets. I can now smile at the dread I felt when I was left with a huge Excel file and some vague instructions on what to do with it, but at the time, it was full panic mode. I don’t remember exactly how Shawn wound up helping me, as I wasn’t working directly with him, but my guess is some kind soul pointed him out. More likely though, he was even then looking out for the new folks on the team and quietly offering assistance. He not only demystified Excel for me, he helped me develop my own curiosity and aptitude for data analytics and automation. We bonded over our shared aversion to doing things the long way. The tools he gave me early on served me well, but over the years he continued to be generous with his time and knowledge, answering the tricky questions, but also just talking and laughing.

He took so many of us under his wing, teaching us, sharing tips and tricks, and building programs that made our work easier (even well before his move to the automation team). The impact he had on so many of us and the ripple effect of his kindness are infinite. It’s been so heartwarming reading everyone’s stories about Shawn and the joy he brought to those around him. I feel so lucky to have known him, so grateful for how he impacted my life, and so incredibly devastated that I’ll never get to talk to him again.

I’ll continue to lean on the lessons Shawn taught me, not only the technical skills and the importance of mentoring others, but the patience and openness it takes to truly be that person for someone else. Thank you, Shawn, for being that person for me.

I’ll miss you, my friend. 

I have been thinking long and hard trying to come up with the right words to say about Shawn.

he was such a great guy such an easy presence to be around.

him and I had so many common interests that it just made it so easy to talk with him and I enjoyed every second that we ever spent together!

he was absolutely the smartest guy I've ever known!

he was an absolute Leonardo da Vinci with code. I still marvel at what he could do and how quickly he could do it.

he was just an all-around great guy!

but I have to be honest, the overall feeling that I have is that this just all sucks!

this isn't right! I want a redo! I want a recount, reboot a control-alt-delete!

is there a yelp for the cosmos because if there is I want to give it zero stars!

we needed more Shawns in the world not less!

how can the universe get this so wrong?

I feel angry and I feel cheated and I wish there was some way to find that reset button cuz I miss him I miss him terribly!

I don't know how Laura has been as strong as she has been and I don't know what else to say except it just all totally sucks! 

They say time heals all wounds but I'll tell you the older you get the harder it is to heal!

​Losing Shawn is a heavy hit. He was a rare soul who seamlessly filled the roles of boss, mentor, and friend all at once.

​I’ll never forget Shawn describing the Bang & Olufsen system in his car. He talked about how it allowed him to hear songs he’d known for decades in a completely different way—suddenly able to pick out every individual instrument and layer. He had an incredible ear for the smallest details, and he brought that same level of precision and appreciation to everything he did.

​At work, Shawn was the one who pulled back the curtain on Visual Basic for me. He spent countless hours reviewing code with me, teaching me the underlying logic of macros, and helping me navigate the most complex technical problems. To be honest, I don't know even a tenth of what he knew about writing code, but the lessons he shared were so impactful that they gave me the foundation I need to navigate and make these updates today.

​As I worked on a macro this evening, I saw his fingerprints and footprints all over the code. It was a bittersweet moment. I feel incredibly lucky that he passed his knowledge down to me, but it’s heartbreaking to realize I can’t just turn around and ask for his take on a new update anymore.

​I feel like the guardian of the tools he built now. I’m honored to be the one keeping his macros running for as long as I can, and I’ll always keep the volume up on Pink Floyd in his memory. Shawn wasn’t just "the boss"; he was the person who taught me how to find the harmony in the noise. I am profoundly grateful for the time I had with him.

You are missed dearly my friend.