Growing up in the Como Park neighborhood of Saint Paul was a gift I will forever be grateful to my parents for. I’m reminded of this any time I walk into Target and run into at least 5 people. I’m reminded whenever I drive through the streets that I grew up riding my bike on or rocking my awesome rollerblades. I was definitely reminded when we shopped for our first house – it just had to be in Como Park.

But sadly, I’m reminded most when the neighborhood loses someone. The outpouring of love and support is just unbelievable.

Last Saturday night, an accident took the life of a 27 year old named George Paitich. He wasn’t just a neighbor. Our families have spent the last 20 years celebrating holidays together, going to hockey tournaments, hanging out at booyas, meat raffles, graduation parties and Sunday morning brunches. They are family to us.

Tomorrow morning, I’m heading back to my old neighborhood to hug my parents and my brother and his family. It’s been hard to wrap my head around this all week, but people have been sharing some pretty wonderful things about George. As I’ve been reading all the comments from people about George, I’m reminded of these words.

I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better
With the time I’ve been given
And I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less
Than something that says “I was here”

George made a difference in this world. He made a difference with the kids he taught and worked with, his friends, his family. He made a difference with his coworkers and neighbors. George believed in education and fixing the inequalities in our current system. He was so passionate about it. He shared his wins and his frustrations publicly and he didn’t back down in his beliefs.

#forthekids

I hope he knew how much of an impact he had on the people around him. It seems incredibly unfair that a person like George can be gone at such a young age, but the best thing I can do is be a better person because I knew him. Everything he did for the kids he taught and the future generations and he used the hashtag below on everything he shared.

george_paitich

That hashtag is being shared on posts all over Facebook, signs around the city of St. Paul and there will even be a news story about George on Fox9 this week. So many people were impacted by this one life.

We all have a responsibility to be good people to those around us. You never know who you will make an impact on. George made an impact on so many people and this world is a better place because of him. Think about that this weekend and maybe go out and do something #forthekids

Life is short. Make sure to hug a little longer and love a little louder today.

http://www.willwerscheid.com/obituaries-2/425-george-w-paitich