In 1995, Heather Fogarty met the love of her life at Denny's. Thirteen years later, Heather's husband, Shawn Fogarty, was killed in an automobile accident in front of that very same restaurant.
A 1992 graduate of Shikellamy High School, Shawn, 34, of Shamokin Dam, passed away due to injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. He last was employed at Bob Evans.
Renee Pehowic, of Sunbury, describes her brother as a dedicated and loyal brother, father, husband and son. "When my husband and I were first married, I wanted him to be more like Shawn," she said with a laugh. "Shawn loved family traditions -- from St. Patrick's Day to Christmas Eve--he made all holidays and birthdays special family events."
"Christmas wasn't the same without hearing Shawn read The Night Before Christmas,'"" said Shawn's father, Ron Fogarty, of Florida. "Shawn was such a good family man and father, better than me."
According to Shawn's wife, the family traditions are continuing. "This year, our son, Dylan, 11, read the story."
Another Christmas Eve tradition was watching "Scrooge." "But it had to be the one with Albert Finney," Renee said. "Shawn could recite that movie line for line."
Renee said a lot of Shawn's family traditions were carried over from when they were young. "Shawn was so dedicated to his family, and his two boys were his world."
Another tradition was going to the Bloomsburg Fair. "Throughout the year, Shawn kept his change in a jar, and that's what the kids got to spend," Heather said. "We couldn't leave until we won a basketball and hit our favorite food stands, Berrigan Subs, Dave's Gyro, rice pudding in a waffle cone, upside-down banana split, Vince's cheese steak and blue birch beer."
Cameron, 5, and his dad had fun racing remote-control cars in the parking lot beside their house.
Dylan remembers watching football, especially the Philadelphia Eagles, and cheering on their favorite players, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook.
The family loved Shawn's cooking. "His fettuccine alfredo rocked," said Renee, who admitted Shawn was the only one who pretended to like her cooking.
While Shawn was a Pennsylvania Culinary Arts School graduate, the chef still called his mom for recipes. "Nothing like home cooking," said Shawn's mother, Debra Fogarty.
Shawn also enjoyed bowling with his family and in a league.
"I was with him when he bowled his 300 game," said Shawn's brother, Jonathan "Bubba" Fogarty, of Selinsgrove. "I think I was more nervous than he was."
Chris Hare, of Shamokin Dam, credits his friend with inspiring him to become a better family man. "Shawn constantly talked about how much he loved his life and his family. Shawn was an amazing person and good friend to everybody."
Heather and her sons are appreciative of the outpouring of support from the community.
"I especially want to thank my employer, VNA, and the Selinsgrove School District for all they've done for me and the boys. I feel so lucky to live in such a caring school district. It helps me to know the boys have the support they need and have such wonderful teachers that care for the kids they teach," she said.
n Passings is an interview with friends and family who recently lost a loved one. It appears on Wednesdays. For comments or to request an interview, call 850-5662 or e-mail dfbrubaker@hotmail.com.
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