A scholarship is being created as a Massachusetts athlete who died unexpectedly last week is being remembered.
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser and those who knew him, 17-year-old Owen Coyne, who died from a sudden brain hemorrhage on Thursday, was a gifted athlete and the co-captain of the Marblehead High School football team, but he was more than just a jock.
“Owen was… a fiercely loyal friend and teammate to many. He was a gifted student and natural athlete who seemed to excel at whatever he took on and had recently committed to continue his academic and football career at Williams College. But as remarkable as Owen was in so many ways, it was who he was that made him so special. He had a rare goodness about him—a kindness and warmth, a generosity of spirit, and a humility that touched everyone around him. His loss has left an immeasurable hole in the lives of all who knew and loved him.”
An obituary noted that “Owen was an exceptional student, challenging himself with nearly all AP and honors classes, and earning a 4.0 GPA. A three-sport athlete….he also competed in Varsity baseball and Varsity Track & Field. Among the many awards and accolades bestowed upon Owen over the years, he was most proud to be named the recipient of the Charles Lovely Student-Athlete Award.”
Owen also spent the past three summers as a talented and much-loved sailing instructor for the Town of Marblehead. He represented his sports teams as a volunteer coach for various sports camps and clinics over the years.
The fundraiser has been created by friends of the family to support the Owen P. Coyne Scholarship Fund and other meaningful efforts that will honor Owen, keep his memory alive, and carry his legacy forward. Funds will also help ease the many unexpected burdens and medical expenses that may arise for the family in the wake of such a heartbreaking loss.
A church service will take place on Thursday at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church in Marblehead at 11:30 a.m., immediately followed by a gathering at Tedesco Country Club.
