Moscow community grieves loss of Daniel Shannon
According to University of Idaho senior Jessie Giguiere, Daniel Shannon was a man of many talents.
Giguiere remembered his discipline in both work and academics and most of all, his drive to live with passion.
“Dan was a unique person,” Giguiere said. “He just had a lot of passion for life … He loved all things physical. He loved learning new things and having compelling, intelligent discussions.”
Daniel Shannon
Family and friends grieve for the loss of Shannon, a UI student and Moscow community member who died due to spontaneous bleeding of the brain. He passed away Jan. 23, a few days after his 23rd birthday.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Caldwell First Baptist Church in Caldwell, Idaho.
Shannon, a Caldwell native and marketing major who had plans to complete his degree this year, first arrived in Moscow in 2010 and has been an integral part of the community ever since.
His parents, Eric and Laura Shannon, said they are proud of the connections their son made during his time at UI, and how integrated in the Moscow community he was.
“We have a very loving and tight-knit family,” Eric and Laura Shannon said. “It made us so happy to see that Daniel had made a family for himself in Moscow too … He established this universe of friends that love and support him.”
Shannon was a lifeguard at both the Hamilton Lowes Aquatic Center and the UI Swim Center. He also worked as a clerk at the Palouse Inn.
His parents said Shannon loved physical activity and aspired to have a career that touched on fitness. Giguiere said he was interested in becoming a personal trainer and hoped to integrate his love for athletics with his studies of business and accounting.
“He was really passionate about working out,” Giguiere said. “He loved lifting weights, swimming and football — he seriously loved all kinds of football, collegiate, professional, intramural … you name it.”
UI student Calvin Stephenson, who worked with Shannon at the public pool in Moscow, said Shannon also enjoyed challenging others intellectually.
“He was always trying to debate others,” Stephenson said. “But he also had a lot of respect for the people around him, and although he loved to debate, he wouldn’t say anything that others might interpret as offensive.”
Shannon’s passion for debate stemmed from genuine curiosity and a desire to prompt discussion, Giguiere said.
“Dan and I bonded over debate and arguing about things,” Giguiere said. “He loved discussion for the sake of discussion … It wasn’t about being right, whether Dan agreed with you or not. He liked to play devil’s advocate and compel others to question their beliefs.”
It was Shannon’s many passions and avenues of engagement that made his parents proud. They said the tributes and memories posted to his Facebook page by friends and family reflect the role he assumed in the Moscow community — a loyal and compassionate friend.
“I’m proud that he was making it on his own and that he built a support network for himself,” Laura Shannon said. “As a parent, you’ll always be concerned about when your child goes out into the world for the first time, but Daniel has always been so independent and has made such good choices that I never worried too much.”
Giguiere said Shannon emulated the qualities one would find in a best friend.
“Dan was smart, sweet and dependable,” Giguiere said. “When you needed him he was just there.”
Shannon touched the lives of many with his fervor for living, and the university grieves his loss, said UI Dean of Students Craig Chatriand.
“Our condolences to Daniel’s family and friends, our thoughts go out to them,” Chatriand said. “It’s certainly a difficult situation when something like this happens to someone so young and healthy … he will be missed.”
If fellow students are having trouble with the loss they are encouraged to reach out to the Dean of Students office or the Counseling and Testing Center.
“With so many grieving, we want students to know they are not alone,” Chatriand said.
His parents said Shannon made the decision to be an organ donor in order to help others, even after his death.
“We are proud that he chose to be an organ donor,” Eric Shannon said. “Even after death, he is able to help others live the best lives they can.”
Shannon is survived by his parents, Laura and Eric, and his siblings Carolyn, Muriel and Caleb.
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected]