Beloved brother, uncle, husband

Lifelong Claremont resident E.J. Sheehy died from heart failure at his home in Seattle, Washington, on May 14, just 10 days after he lost his beloved wife, Vita Sheehy, to pancreatic cancer. He was 57 years old.

E.J. was born on March 28, 1968, in Beaufort, South Carolina. The second of three children to Dorothy “Dot” and Jack Sheehy, they were a miliary family who moved frequently before settling down permanently in Claremont in 1977. He attended Mt. View Elementary School and then El Roble Intermediate School before heading to Damien High School. He met his lifelong friends at Damien in the Class of 1986, including John Kirke, Steve Gardner, and Geoff Barton. He was heartbroken to lose Geoff earlier this year.

After high school, he attended Seattle University, where his love of the Pacific Northwest began. He stayed in Seattle after earning an economics degree and immediately began his career with the U.S. Bureau of Labor as a field statistician. This career served as another avenue for making lifelong friends and he stayed until his retirement in November 2024.

A chance party in 1997 would change his life forever. Although he was there with a different date, he met Vita Alexander that night. They would become engaged within three months and married in October 1997. Vita was the outgoing perfect complement to his quiet demeanor, and they remained together until Vita’s passing on May 4, 2025.

He is survived by his sister Erin Sheehy and her husband Chris Robb of Pacific Palisades; his sister Tara Sheehy Tisopulos and her husband Laki and their three daughters Alexa, Kyra, and Melina, all of Claremont; and Vita’s sister Betty Emery and her two children.

He was predeceased by his wife Vita; and his parents Dot Sheehy in 2014 and Jack Sheehy in 1996.

“When we think of our brother, we think of a level of compassion and generosity that you don’t see every day,” his family shared. “So many people have reached out to say how he was always quietly donating to their causes or classrooms. His nieces were so lucky to have him in their corner attending every event and cheering from near and far. They knew how loved they were.” The Sheehy sisters wrote, “We are absolutely heartbroken to lose him.”

A celebration of life will be held at his beloved Damien High School at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 28. All are welcome to attend.

A memorial scholarship has been established in his name to assist Damien students moving on to college. More information will be available at the event, or you can email Tara Tisopulos at ttisopulos@gmail.com.