Collin Sean McDonald

Collin Sean McDonald October 20, 1999 – May 30, 2019

Collin was born in Lancaster, California on October 20, 1999 to Karri and Michael K McDonald Jr. Collin is survived by his parents Karri and Michael McDonald, his four older sisters Brittny Smith, Rachele McDonald, Alyssa Corse, and Courtney Rodriguez. As well as his three grandparents, aunts, uncle, niece, nephews, and his cat Tigger who is his baby. Along with Collin’s friends that are also family to him and us for a lifetime and beyond.

Collin and our family moved to the Big Bear Valley in 2002. Where he attended preschool through Big Bear High School, graduating on June 15, 2018. Collin was accepted at the University of Arizona in Tucson where he completed his freshman year as an engineering student on May 8, 2019 when he came home to spend his summer break. He was majoring in aerospace engineering which had been his passion and dream since middle school. His goal was to work for Space X when he graduated. Since he was old enough to put together Legos he was always creating and building things. He even built his own gaming computer from money he earned as well as saving all his Christmas and birthday money when he was a teenager.

Collin loved playing sports and being active. Through the Big Bear Valley Parks and Recreation system, he earned his black belt in karate by the time he was 11 years old. This is where he learned to resolve issues peacefully and with kindness. He also had a love of soccer and wanted to follow in his big sisters’ soccer cleats. Collin first started playing for the Big Bear League in 2004 as a Grasshopper. He would later play club soccer for three years, before taking a break until his sophomore year at Big Bear High School when the first boys’ soccer team was formed. Collin was so excited and happy to be a part of Bear history. Also, through the Big Bear Rec he played little league baseball from elementary school through middle school. Thanks to all of these activities, Collin got to meet and make so many amazing close friends throughout the Big Bear Valley, besides the kids he went to school with.

Living in the mountains and small community offered Collin and our family so many amazing activities, and opportunities to thrive. Besides all the sports he was active in, Collin also loved snowboarding, hiking, quad riding, and playing video games with his friends into wee hours of the morning. Except for the video gaming, these were activities our family loved doing together. You could say the mountains were in his blood. During his 9 months of living in Tucson, he really missed the mountains, his family and friends, but he loved college life, learning new things, and meeting new friends. He missed the vibrations and feel of the mountain so much that one day he took a drive up to Mount Lemon just outside of Tucson. He was so happy that night when he called us to share the experience. Somewhere over the past few months he found a saying from John Muir, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” After seeing that he told his sister he really wanted that picture.

Our beloved son lost his life on May 30, 2019 in a tragic car accident on his way home from his last day of training for his summer job. He was well loved by his family, friends, and colleagues. His high schools’ motto is “Ohana” which means family. All who were touched by our son’s smile, generous compassionate nature is now our Ohana. Collin, you will be loved and missed forever.

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