Seána Carolyn Canavan
Seána Carolyn Canavan died Saturday evening April 18, 2015, two days before her 18th birthday, when she was struck by a taxi on Pine St. in San Francisco.
Seána was born April 20, 1997, in Queens, NY. She was proud of her name (pronounced “Shaw-Na”) and especially the accent over the “a” which further distinguished it as special. She was similarly proud of her dual German and American citizenship, and her bi-racial identity. Her father recalls the day she was born, “The moment I laid eyes on her for the first time, she became the purpose of my life, the reason why I walk this earth. She will remain that forever.”
Her parents brought her to San Francisco when she was four months old. She grew up in San Francisco, surrounded by a loving family and many close friends. She also had relatives in Mississippi, Germany, and throughout Europe with whom she would remain close throughout her life.
She spent her elementary school years at the San Francisco Day School (SFDS) and her high school years at the International High School (IHS) in San Francisco. Seána was set to graduate from IHS this June.
Seána had a vibrant presence and an inimitable sense of humor. She possessed a genuine and enthusiastic interest in people, even those she had just met. “Seána was the physical embodiment of a warm embrace delivered at 100mph” said San Francisco artist and her middle school art teacher, Rodney Ewing. She was “the light in the room and the voice in the crowd that made you feel welcome.”
Even at a young age Seána’s energy was powerful, positive and connective. Her second grade teacher at SFDS, Lauren Del Balso remembered her as a “bright light” in the classroom. “She skipped into school each day with a spring in her step and morning hugs for everyone. Her enthusiasm was contagious.”
Seána’s parents were proud of her accomplishments as a student, artist, photographer, actor, and volleyball powerhouse. She played on varsity and club volleyball teams in high school and her love of sports started early. Her teacher and coach, Mary O’Brien, recalls Seána’s confidence and energy, “Once she was convinced she could do something, there was no looking back. She was the ideal team member - energized, happy, and always (I mean always) looking out for her friends.”
Seána was an undeniable presence everywhere she went. “The halls at school are unbearable without your laughter echoing through them,” stated one of her IHS classmates. Her ebullient character brought people together. Ewing noted, “Seána’s personality was immediately disarming and strangers soon became friends…this was Seána’s true gift, creating friends, anytime,
Seána enjoyed traveling to Europe every summer with her father, visiting relatives in France, Spain, and Germany. This summer she had planned to travel throughout Europe with friends and then spend time with family in Bochum, Germany in order to improve her German. Seána planned to take a “gap year” following her graduation from IHS, in order to participate in a work-study program in Tanzania. She had hoped to attend the University of Berlin in the fall of 2017.
In addition to school, sports, family and friends, Seána loved spending time with her boyfriend of almost 2 years, Solon de Lima. The two met in Dolores Park in May of 2013. Solon said that the relationship immediately took off and since then, they never broke up for longer than an hour. He described their relationship as “crazily challenging” but very much worth the effort. “True love is hard. That’s all.”
Seána is survived by her parents, Sean and Tonia Canavan; her grandmother, Gudrun Canavan of Bochum, Germany; her aunts and uncles, Ute, Sabina, Steven, Heidi, Craig, and Chris; and, her cousins, Jana, Sidney, Carlin, Fina, Linus, Jeronda, Jarod, Justin, Aubrea and Craig Jr. She is also survived by many adoring friends including her best friends, Sammy, Abby and Mia Walker, Rosalie Neal, and Solon de Lima.
In lieu of flowers, a philanthropic memorial fund has been set up by family and friends to honor Seána’s life and spirit. Each year a portion of the fund will be used to support programs important to her and her community. If you would like to support The Fund with a tax deductible gift, please send donations to: The Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, The Seána Canavan Charitable Fund, Fund number 1082120, Fidelity Charitable, PO Box 770001, Cincinnati, Ohio 45277.