Elliot Shaw Larson

Welcome to Elliot's tribute site.

I have so many stories to share, and I invite you to share stories of your own. They help me to see what kind of a friend he was, to see how much he was loved.

Elliot was an amazing young man, who touched so many hearts in his 16 years, 2 months, 21 days. Among many other things, he was a gifted musician, a great friend, a patient mentor, a mischievous little brother and a loving son. He leaves behind a lot of broken hearts.

Why Elliot, why such a good person? I have asked that question hundreds of times- - couldn't he have done more for God here on earth? He was just coming into the man he would have been. But there are no answers for me to these questions. I only have to accept what happened and have faith that there was an important purpose and that we will heal, in time.

Elliot loved his music; he played trumpet, euphonium, tuba and acoustic guitar. He was very talented. I am certain that if he had lived, he would have made his mark in the music world in some way - - whether teaching or performing. He also loved listening to music of any kind, except maybe opera. We had a song that we both loved, Hotel California. When we heard it on the radio we would crank the radio up and sing along to it. From time to time, I hear him playing it for me, and when I do, I know he is with me. He held a brown belt in karate. Karate seemed to give him the confidence he lacked at times. As a younger boy he played hockey and he could fly like the wind when he skated. He especially liked teaching his younger stepbrothers how to skate. It made him feel like such a big man. Like so many other boys his age, he loved playing his X-box. His favorite games were role playing games. He was a very compassionate friend; I have had so many kids tell me stories of how he stuck up for them; of how he was the only high school boy who would talk to them like they were people; of how much they loved him. I have so many wonderful memories of my son, recent memories like our trip to Florida at Thanksgiving of 2005 and how much he loved Cirque de Soleil. Our last trip together to Bar Harbor when his sister was getting ready to go to Florida in August of 2005. He loved hiking around Jordan Pond. It was a wonderful day. I have memories of his teasing ways that I will always cherish - - how he would joke with me about how old I am getting; one time he and his step brothers came into my bedroom and played Taps on his trumpet to wake me up; how sad he was last Christmas that his brother and sister couldn't be home - - reading The Night Before Christmas to him that last Christmas Eve and both of us crying because the other two weren't there. The time he ate an ENTIRE tube of refrigerated cookies and drank an ENTIRE bottle of fake champagne. Or when I found the pizza hidden in his bedstand for a snack at a later time. Or the huge pumpkin chocolate chip cookie shaped in a heart that he gave me for Valentine's Day, less than a month before he left us. So many memories, so many good times. I love him with all of my heart and soul. As he left home that day to go build the cabin with his friends, he said "love you Mom". Pretty powerful last words for me to hear him say. He was so excited to get in his truck and drive. He was having a blast that day, and I am so thankful for that. I can just imagine him driving down the County Road, with his friends behind him. I can see in my mind as they passed him, encouraging him to keep up. I can hear his laughter as he tried to keep up and how cool he must have thought that was. And the sudden peace after he rounded that corner . . .

He is in God's hands, his father's hands, now and I know that at last he is getting the fulfillment of a father's love that he always craved. One wonderful day I will see him again, and he will be there waiting for me as I enter, with that look on his face that only Elliot could have, and say "Hi Mom! Welcome Home".


Thank you, to each and every one of Elliot's friends and loved ones, for your support and love though this tragedy. None of us will ever understand why such a good person had to leave us so young; we can only assume that God had some divine purpose for him, and I think everyone agrees, he couldn't have chosen a better angel. The family is doing its best to survive this, and to honor Elliot by finding a way to live again. Elliot certainly should be honored, and celebrated. I always knew he was special; I always knew what a gift he is to me. I never realized that he was a gift to so many people.

I want to thank some very special people who have helped us in the last few years, and who were all chosen as part of Elliot's Master Plan to try to make this as easy for our family as possible - - Michael Luce, Rudy Albert, "Argo" Regan, and Officer Debbie Holmes, who where there in the first moments to assist in the "business" part of losing Elliot; Pastor Bruce Stevens, Shianne Wheeler, Shirley Chinn, Nancy Ward and Miranda Parsons, who have been more help than I can ever measure. I will forever be indebted to each and every one of you for the role you played in the events just before and after Elliot's passing. God Bless you all.


ELLIOT SHAW LARSON

OLD TOWN-Elliot Shaw Larson, 16, cherished son of Jeanne Shaw, died March 12, 2006 as a result of a tragic automobile accident. Elliot will be remembered for his love for music as he was very active and talented with the Old Town High School Bands and their activities. Music was a career he had hoped to pursue and since he was on highest honors, he would have reached his goals. Elliot accepted the Lord as his Savior on Feb. 23rd 2006. He played football and was in Jr. ROTC, both activities his freshman year at Old Town High School. He was also a Brown Belt Holder in Karate. Even with all these activities, Elliot also had a job; he was a paperboy for the Bangor Daily News for a year and a half and he was working at the University of Maine, Orono, at Stewart Commons. Elliot was born December 19, 1989 in Bangor. Elliot leaves behind a big brother Joshua Anderson and his wife Roberta of Las Vegas and a loving sister Krista Joy Anderson of Old Town, an Aunt Paula Sue Shaw of San Antonio, TX., grandfather William Shaw and his wife Lu of Caribou, many friends including Adam Hatch, Scott Gallant, David Falls, Corey Wasson, Dan Pete, Dan Hatch, Miranda Parsons, Danielle Boynton and many, many more. He was predeceased by his grandmother Helen Shaw, his uncles Dan and Billy Shaw.
Elliot was such a fun-loving good boy. I will always hear "love you mom" as I go up to bed each night. Elliot was the light of my life and he will always be in my heart.


IF I COULD REACH UP AND HOLD A STAR FOR EVERY TIME YOU'VE MADE ME SMILE, THE ENTIRE SKY WOULD BE IN THE PALM OF MY HAND.

Friends may call 6-9 PM Wednesday at the Birmingham Funeral Home 438 Main St. Old Town. A Celebration of Life will be conducted 2 PM Thursday at the Old Town United Baptist Church with the Rev. Bruce Stevens officiating. Burial will be private. Friends and family are invited to the church undercroft following the service for a luncheon and continued fellowship. Those who wish may memorial contributions to the Elliot Shaw Larson Music Scholarship Fund, Class of 2008, C/O Jeffery Priest, Old Town High School, 203 Stillwater Ave. Old Town, ME 04468. Elliot's Life Story will be available to view Tuesday evening by visiting www.mem.com. All are welcome to post a personal tribute to Elliot at this site.