From Pastor Sarah at Church of the Good Shepherd UCC in Albuquerque:

Dear Church Family,

I write you to share the heartbreaking news of the death of our dear friend and associate church member Shawn Dromgoole. Yesterday, Shawn's family found him at home unresponsive. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors found he had high blood sugar and a high fever. While in critical care, Shawn had a heart attack, and they were tragically not able to bring him back.

The family is still in shock--as am I, but I will let you know as soon as I know more about funeral plans or places folks can send flowers or donate in his honor.

Shawn Marcus Dromgoole II was a proud 34-year-old Nashville native, who called the same neighborhood home for his entire life—a place his family has cherished for over 50 years. However, in 2020, a simple walk in his own community became a source of fear. With courage, Shawn shared his feelings on Nextdoor and Facebook, and what happened next was nothing short of extraordinary. Neighbors from all walks of life quickly rallied behind him, offering to walk beside him, behind him, and alongside him. On June 4th, 2020, Shawn showed up for what he thought would be a solitary walk—but instead, he was met with the overwhelming support of over 75 neighbors. This powerful moment sparked the beginning of the #WeWalkWithShawn movement.

Click through to read about Shawn’s connection to Church of the Good Shepherd and how his movement spread throughout the country.