Family website for Sean

The lives of beloved fans Sean Travis (31 years old, from Breckenridge, CO), Michael Winepol, and Lindsay Malkiewicz were taken in a tragic car accident while en route to Phish's Coventry Festival. We extend condolences to the family and friends of Sean, as well as to the family and friends of Michael and Lindsay.

From The Standard (Aiken, SC), 8/16/04:

     Sean McNeill Travi, 31, was called home on Aug. 13, 2004, in an accident in Underhill, Vt. Sean was a graduate of Virginia Tech and a resident of Breckenridge, Colorado, where he was employed in the restaurant business.
     Sean was an avid snowboarder, disc golfer and Phish fan, and was en route to the band's final concert when the accident occurred. Sean was accompanied by his special friend Lindsay Malkiewicz, and good friend Michael Winepol, [both of whom] also perished.
     Sean is survived by his parents, Vicky and Herschel Travis; two brothers, Richard and Robert, all of Midland Valley; and his paternal grandparents, Herschel Sr. and Daisy Jane Travis.
     A celebration of life is being planned in Breckenridge for Sean and his friends. Locally, a tree will be planted in his memory on the disc golf course at Riverview Park. Family and friends will be notified of the dedication.
     In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Mockingbird Foundation, 6948 Luther Circle, Moorpark, CA 93021.

Sean's father Herschel gave a moving eulogy (entire text), closing with a song by Blue Highway which includes these words:

Some day when my last line is written
Some day when I've drawn my last breath
When my last words on earth have been spoken
And my lips are sealed in death
Don't look on my cold form in pity
Don't think of me as one dead
It'll just be the house I once lived in
My spirit by then will have fled.
I'll have finished my time here allotted
But I won't be in darkness alone
I will have heard from heaven
The summons to come on home

Dave Conner offered these thoughts:

     I will never find a reason why you left us so soon. You never offended anyone and always seemed to make sure that everyone within shouting distance of you was more than good, better than average.
     So we sat in Breckenridge all weekend, and I tried to figure out why you left us so soon. It really makes no sense. In retrospect, there is nothing that could be done to change the past. The last time I spoke to you, I remember your disgust over how you had to miss a Hampton show because the flight plans had already been made. I tried to convince you to come here anyway - in which case, maybe things would be different.
     I am sorry to have missed your birthday, but I think I have been missing a lot lately. One way or another, we will meet again in another place, another time. Maybe we will be able to figure out why all of this happened? I am hoping that one way or another, this is a part of your plan for us, as your father said. Why else would you push yourself so hard Sean? It’s really hard for me to feel comfortable in Colorado. I wanted to move there this season but I am not sure that I can bring myself to it.
     What do you want us to do, Sean? I hope that you had a plan and will be able to bring it together one way or another. You were always such a good leader. None of us ever had a problem following you wherever you took us.
     And why not? You would always go out of your way to make everyone else happy, and you never went out of your way to do it.
     You never seemed slightly annoyed by any of the negative experiences in life - or maybe you just kept those feelings to yourself. You never had to make any sacrifices because one way or another, you found a subtle/soothing way to deal with every situation.
     I hope you continue to play crooked tricks on all of us, like hitting the "panic" button on my car and then somehow locking the keys in it. The ‘Virginia,’ “Scream at the fire alarm,” while I am looking for it? I didn’t think I liked the Gin Blossoms.
     I still cannot believe that the place we were staying at in Breckenridge for The Celebration had a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle named COVENTRY, of course. It had a K-Mart price tag on it, probably bought over ten years ago. Amy, Mark, Slavin, Tom and I spent nine hours completing it. I can’t believe there weren’t any pieces missing. I was expecting three to be lost the whole time we were putting it together. Well, I have the puzzle now, on my way back to LA; we all signed it, and I am going to frame it in a shadow box, and send it to your parents.
     The view of the mountain from your service was amazing. Your mother made me feel comfortable after I informed everyone, “I am not very eloquent, some say I speak Cryptic Mumble.” She told me that I sounded just fine; we made eye contact and she made me feel both confident and comfortable. That must run in the family. Anyhow, I managed to say a few things, I think. Your father spoke about your trip to Vegas and seeing Wayne Newton. I remember meeting Lindsay and you at the Stardust, dressed for Wayne and half as old as anyone else there. Your father seemed happy that you died doing something that you loved. You worked at a frantic pace for months at a time so that you could party like the rock star that you were. I wish we could have lived in the mountains for a season or two.
     I guess it all happens for a reason, doesn’t it? I sure wish I were lucky enough to know what that reason is. I know how intent you are at accomplishing a task; I just wish you knew when to take a nap or two. I have learned from your experience. I laugh at myself thinking that maybe you guys just went to Canada to get away from it all.
     Please continue to look over my shoulder and provide me with good advice. The only time I ever heard you say "no" was when I was wrong about something. You always sacrificed yourself and said "yes". Continue to play pranks on me, and I will do the same.

Sean's family has also created a touching and important memorial site. See also, a touching photo essay sent to Sean's travis from Sara Bell, and several stories in the Summit Daily News (1, 2, 3; archived: 3).

Note: If you have a photograph, service program, or other rememberance of Sean which you would like us to share with other fans, please send them to ellis@mbird.org. Thanks are due to Vicky Travis, Herschel Travis, Denise Miner, Naomi Katz, and others for their contributions.

Memorial Contributors

On behalf of Sean's family, the Mockingbird board is honored to have received donations in Sean's name from

• Charles P. Arbogast
• Marlene G. Baugh
• Kimberly R. Linderman
• Helen and Alexander Stolzberg
• Alexis L. Tucker
• Herschel and Daisy Travis
• Karen van Trump
• Amy Vavra
• Tom and Mary Anne Warrenn
• James R. and Judith A. White
• Sandy Whitehouse