We don’t even remember when we exactly met Tyler. From the great memories we treasure of our time in the USA, he is just in pretty much all of them.

It was so easy to feel happy and at peace next to him; there was always laughter, planning of a michievous joke, reflections about the does and donts of the world or a shoulder to rely on.

We can’t help to smile when thinking about the halloween parties, all the bbq’s, the camping trips, the sunsets on the beach, the cards against humanity games and all the american culture he taught us; still today we brag about our friend who showed us how to prepare proper slow cooked ribs with a final touch at the grill any time we have people over.

It fills our hearts with sadness that he won’t be able to build more precious memories like these or from new adventures with all the people who loved him. He was one of the sweetest friends we’ve made along the way and we will truly miss him.

We hope you are resting in peace, Tyler; thank you for everything and we are looking forward to seeing you again in the next life. Lots of strength and a huge hug to all the family. Carla&Pep

My memories of Tyler and his family are from long ago – specimens preserved in amber. But on a long early-morning plane ride, when I closed my eyes into the non-sleep that comes on airplanes, I found that these times came back to me easily.

The Bohacheks were like a second family to me then. Memories of Tyler are memories of them and vice-versa. If you shoved my bike out of the garage with no rider, it would likely have found its own way to their door. I showed up at their house almost daily and if I was a pest, nobody ever said. Except Orky never stopped trying to nip me if I didn’t stare her down when I entered. The one cat never stopped hiding from me. The kitten that Tyler found and rescued from under a vending machine was a little braver. And it was admitted that I was apt to leave crumbs on Kathy’s counter.

It was the twilight of boyhood. Imagination and fancy had curdled into a nihilism whose name I did not know and of which I dared not speak. No matter. We kept busy with our hands. Implements must be sharpened. Fireworks must be broken down and reassembled into larger fireworks. Cars must be repaired. Fortresses of barbed wire and scrap metal constructed in then-vacant fields now long-covered with identical sub-division homes. We built pneumatic canons out of sprinkler valves and pelted elaborate army-man dioramas with thousands of BBs. 

The Playstation was ascendant. “Twisted Metal 2” was in its heyday. I watched Tyler play through all of “Resident Evil” – terrifying. Or Randy would join in “Micro Machines V3” for high-speed slapdash racing – terrific.

Tyler and Nate’s friendship, Aaron’s coming and going from parts unknown, and Randy and Kathy’s generous provision of a third space sustained me in that time.

I can hear Tyler practicing George Winston and Guaraldi. I can see his form at the piano clearly, and the power he put into the climax of Winston's Canon . He worked on that one for a long time, and Peppermint Patty, too (or was it Linus and Lucy?). A picture of refinement. Then of course, he once ate a stick of butter to prove it was possible. You just never knew.

Kathy gave me a great gift. She sold me Aaron’s cello – then she endured the sounds of my practice. She likely despaired that a Cannamela would ever learn to count. But that musical practice was a lifesaver for me and it’s stuck with me over decades. That same instrument is my companion still.

I can smell the interior of the Dodge van and feel the tack of its upholstery. It had no A/C (it was Alaskan, why would it?). Opening the quarterlight panel windows in front and driving fast was the best you could do. But it was comfortable in winter and it conveyed us to ski. We slipped through every glade and bowl of Pine Creek, Tyler on those stumpy ski blades. They can’t have been stable at high speeds but I suppose they must have been easy to guide through the bumps and the trees. I can picture Randy’s tall figure gliding to a stop on his snowboard, custom-sized helmet on his head. I think of the lines we found and the fun we had often.

Some car or other was ever in disrepair. Every male of the Bohachek line had to have a car that needed fixing – it must have been a rule. Kathy had a regular Subaru that just worked. The boys all had those blue coveralls and it pushed the family resemblance into the regime of mistaken identity. I went along sometimes to the junkyards seeking obscure wrecks where parts could be foraged. Did Nate ever get that red MG running? How did Kathy manage at all with these guys? I never learned.

My path diverged from the Bohacheks in the early aughts, when they moved house and I was mostly away in any case. But they tower in my memory and their impact on me was great. I was saddened to learn of Tyler’s passing but I will savor and cherish the memories it has stirred.

Randy, Kathy, Nate and Aaron, thank you for those times and I hope Tyler's community lends you strength at this moment. I can see he lived a lot since last we met.

https://fb.watch/G8vSto-1Jw/?…

Tyler was always a great cheerleader He was kind. Protecting. Dependable. One of the smartest and caring yet capable people I have known

He almost always felt things more deeply than me - although never saying exactly so - and that is rare. I miss him so much I can’t thank him enough for his kindness and support and the way he showed his love for the people around him

Im the crazy neighbor BTW

Brooke and Tyler moved in upstairs from me in San Diego a year or two after me. Recently relocated from Oakland, Ca and, raising a single daughter on my own, I had plenty if experience with getting to know the hood and folks around. I mostly had to do this to assess the threat or assets nearby. In some sense, I started this shit and the soul filling, friendship and chosen family shenanigans that were to follow.

Im not sure what I brought upstairs that move in day, but in my “single mother protective” and brazen nature , I brought up a gift to the “couple upstairs “ as a weirdo welcome wagon. Mostly I was just trying to see if they were assholes that I would have to take precautions with.

I have a distinct memory that I met Tyler with a food-ish/adjacent welcome gift and that there was a parent present(cant remember if it was Tylers or Brookes). I remember that my”welcome “, risk assessment of the new folks was instantly appreciated. It was a human, authentic (however just nosy mom) gesture that made Tyler feel better. I think that memory is one of the most precious things that I have been able to remember about the person i would grow to know and love

Tyler almost instantly made me both a fan of Brooke and himself . When I met Brooke later- it was clear why he was so in Love and I immediately realized that these two humans were special folks In the years that followed, we all had a lot of wonderful moments together. On many occasions Tyler and I would stay up late and talk about music, nature, physics, gardening, baking, deep dark subjects and everything in between He was curious and interested We shared a live of living things and a lot of trust Brookeand Tyler became a part of my life with ease

Brooke was his light and the most important thing to him. I have always wanted to have a love that brilliant In every conversation or interaction with him, I was honored to see the adoration and pride he had for her

Tyler was a lot more than a friend. He became more like a brother to me He was as knowledgeable at life and emotional distress or unrest as he was about mis en place I trusted Tyler I still do I hate the way that he left this place and miss him deeply

I met in Tyler a man I actually trusted and loved and was blessed with a wonderful experience in knowing him. It was a pleasure to be able to see and share his stories and his deep Love for Brooke Im a big way, I got to know him and his story

I am grateful for his light he shared. His Life and his Love

I spoke with Brooke earlier this evening about him and as much as I feel like I lost a friend and a brother to the sickness that took him , I am so thankful for the good His love for those around him and his life of ever being curious I will always be reminded of his kindness and support

Brooke- I never had a conversation with Tyler about anything that, in some way, didn’t radiate with his pride, unconditional love and childish joy in you He loved and loves you so deeply It was always a treat to hear him speak of you I hope every human is blessed with a love like that. Im glad to have seen it, and you got to experience it

Im thankful to have known Tyler and I wont be losing his memory or the light of his life any time soon

I know he would be so happy to know that I knew he was there for me and that I was able to make a healing connection with his friendship and the memories he left behind

Tyler: Ill keep her company and look in on her. you would have wanted me to Take care of yourself and I wish you the balm that never eased your pain to be a respite now I miss you and I love you Rest In Love