Sean Jucha came into the world on June 20th thirteen years ago. The name Sean, meaning, “Gift from God” was given to him by his loving parents Heather and Robert Jucha. Sean is the first child born to Heather and Bob and was joined six years later by his little brother Ryan.

Sean has spent the majority of his young life participating in activities all boys and young men enjoy. Sean being a lifelong resident of East Greenbush, New York takes advantage of all that his community has to offer. He has been a member of the EGB/Castleton Little League since the age of six. Sean is a huge baseball enthusiast and dedicated fan of the Boston Red Sox, who have embraced him during his illness. The Red Sox organization and players have afforded Sean with many opportunities to watch and participate in games at Fenway. The Red Sox honored Sean with an opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a summer game in 2014. Sean fearlessly and accurately threw the first pitch over home plate in front of over 19,000 fans.

While playing and watching baseball is Sean’s favorite pastime, he did not limit himself to one sport. Sean is a long-standing member of the EGB Basketball association; he joined his Middle School Volley-ball team and dabbled with golf during the summer months. Sean enjoyed running as well where he consistently placed at the top of his class in field day races. In October of 2015, the very day he began his second course of radiation treatment for a new tumor in his frontal lobe, Sean ran a 1-mile apple race at his school. When Sean was asked why he chose to run a mile after an exhausting day at the hospital, his response was, “Because I can”. Sean took part in so many activities and performed at such a high level during his battle with cancer that many people in the community knew little to nothing of the extent of Sean’s illness or the gravity of his prognosis. Sean tried his very best to live a normal life despite some very unfair circumstances and never asked for any special accommodations because of his illness; in fact- he politely declined them when offered.

Sean’s zeal for life extended beyond sports. Sean has been an accomplished student. While waging his battle with cancer, he has attended school -all the while going through a rigorous medical regiment of chemotherapy and radiation that often left him weak and tired. After a particularly difficult day of treatment, Sean’s mother Heather asked Sean if he planned on attending an evening activity at his school, to which he replied, “Why wouldn’t I?” Sean’s reply fully exemplifies the power of his spirit and will to not only live his life but to live it full and to live it well.

Sean enjoys the company of his friends, cousins and dog Goldie. There have been many young men and women in our immediate community and beyond who are blessed to have known Sean and to call him friend.