Shawn entered this world on August 1,1966 and had physicians scratching their heads.
He puzzled them again when he quietly passed December 28, 2023. Shawn always lived life on
his own terms.

Shawn was a bringer of joy, a spreader of smiles, a lover of mischief with a default mood
of happy. He brought unconditional love to those who crossed his path, and to those lucky
enough to grow up with him, a greater understanding of how differently-abled individuals bring
so much light and joy into our lives.

As a differently-abled child, Shawn grew up in Traverse City, surrounded by a loving
family. Shawn attended educational programs in Traverse City and later Smoky Hill High School
when his family moved to Colorado.

Shawn was a regular at Camp Roy-El, thoroughly enjoying his summer stays there, and
he waited patiently by the mailbox every Christmas for the annual camp book. He wore the
pages smooth looking back on the summer fun that the amazing camp gave to all kids with
different abilities in the Traverse City area. Summers in Michigan also meant staying and
playing at his grandparent's cottage on Lake Leelanau. He was a master of water balloons,
baseball on the lawn, and the ringer of the bell to announce the afternoon Happy Hour. With his
siblings and cousins, he loved swimming and playing at the lake and laughing at any boating
mishaps or water-skiing falls. Shawn was also the fall guy for broken items and mishaps around
the house, for which his family members are eternally grateful.

Disney World was truly Shawn's Happiest Place on Earth as he loved meeting the
characters, riding Thunder Mountain Railroad, singing along with the characters in the Tiki
Room and the Bear Jamboree. The memories made there over the years evolved into classic
family stories that are still shared today.

After moving back to TC in 2000, Shawn began employment with Grand Traverse
Industries. Most days he enjoyed boarding the BATA bus and heading to GTI for work,
activities, or community programs. His colleagues there became like family.
Shawn reached the age of 57 because of the amazing care and passionate advocacy by
his mother. In 2010, he joined the Kennedy House Adult Foster Care home, where he was
fortunate to live with his peers and the care of genuinely kind, loving, and caring staff who also
became family.

Shawn is survived by his father, Ronald Sanborn, and his sister, Kimberly MacDonnell,
his favorite cousin, Nicole Alters Moore, his nieces, and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
He is also survived by his housemates and the amazing caregivers at Kennedy House. We
know he is missed by his colleagues at GTI. Shawn is preceded in death by his mother, Nancy
Sanborn (Depky), his brother, Ronald Sanborn Jr, his loving grandparents, and his uncle, Robert
Sanborn.
We are certain that Shawn has had a most glorious reunion with his mom and his
beloved grandmother. We are all better for having had him in our lives.