Remembering Shawn Nassaney: Annual Race/Walk Sept. 8
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Shawn M. Nassaney was a loved member of the Bryant community and was a passenger on United Flight 175 during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The Bulldog community honors him every year with the annual Nassaney Memorial Race/Walk and the Nassaney Invitational, which will be held this year on September 8.
Nassaney was born on July 7, 1976 in Pawtucket, R.I., where he later attended Saint Raphael Academy. While in school, Nassaney developed a strong interest in running and became a star on the track team. He continued his running career at Bryant College and graduated cum laude in 1998 with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing.
During his time at Bryant, he starred on the track and field and cross country programs, and was a two-time recipient of the coveted "Bulldog Award" for ability and commitment to the athletic program.
Bryant University was a very influential part of Shawn's life.
"For the past 18 years, Bryant which was so influential in Shawn's development as a young man, has taken us into it's family," Shawn's father, Pat, said. "The people whom we have come to know and greatly appreciate have immensely helped us in the propagation of Shawn's memory and legacy. Thank you Bryant University."
Prior to graduation, Nassaney started his professional career in June of 1998 as an Inside Sales Representative with American Power Conversion (APC) in West Kingston, R.I. During his exceptional three-year career, he quickly earned numerous promotions and merited prestigious international assignments that relocated him to Sydney, Australia in December of 1999. He returned a year later to APC's headquarters in Rhode Island to accept the role as a Sales Team Leader for the Company's Enterprise Customer Solutions Team. In May of 2001, he began coursework towards his MBA at Providence College.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Shawn and his girlfriend, Lynn Goodchild, were headed to Hawaii on United Flight 175.
Shawn's family, close friends and colleagues founded the Shawn M. Nassaney Memorial Foundation to honor his memory in a way that is consistent with his interests and passion for life. The Foundation established an endowed scholarship at Bryant and also contributed a similar fund established at Saint Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, R.I.
The 18th Annual Memorial Race/Walk will be held on Saturday, September 8 at Bryant University. The race will start at 9 AM with a children's run followed by the adult run. The Nassaney Invitational will follow, with 13 college teams set to compete.
To register for either the Nassaney Memorial Race/Walk or Invitational, click HERE.