Annual James Short Memorial Session brings spirit of young skater to New Philadelphia
Short sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident August 26, 2009 when he was struck by a drunk driver. He passed away August 30, 2009 surrounded by family and friends.
The free session included a merchandise booth, raffles, a silent auction, haircuts for $5 from Studio West salon at New Philadelphia and food vendors. Competitions were held for professional and amateur skaters that included the best toe roll, a move James mastered and made uniquely his own.
“Some of us had attended the session last year and thought we could do something to help, so we came up with the $5 haircut,” said Salon West owner Linda Guthrie-Incarnato. “We’ve been busy all day giving haircuts.”
Live music could be heard all day and into the night as 10 different artists and bands performed free of charge. Nashville DJ Sam Foutz ran sound and acted as emcee for the session.
A two-disc CD compilation of Short’s music was also available for purchase.
All money raised at the session is for The James Short Memorial Fund. Last year, the fund donated to local charities that included Storybook Lane upkeep, Pathway to Wellness at the homeless shelter, Sacred Heart Church and Church of God for the needy at Christmas, a free pizza day for New Philadelphia High School, where James was a graduate, and other charities.
“We decided in holding this session each year we can make a difference $100 at a time,” said Debra (Reb) Robinson, Short’s mother. “We try to choose charities that would have been important to James.”
Friends from the region as well as Pennsylvania, Michigan, California and Texas attended the event. “James was famous in his rollerblading world. He touched many people in his life,” said Robinson
Ben Schwab considered James his best friend. Currently a professional rollerblader with a home base in Los Angeles, Schwab had given up skating. “I had come back to Ohio and James inspired me to start skating again. Today, I am still skating, have sponsors and I play piano and guitar,” said Schwab. “Ben even has his own line of skates,” said Rod Short, James’ father. Schwab’s skates are made by Xsjado, pronounced shadow.
Short was also an organ donor. He was able to help people with the gift of his heart, lungs and kidneys. Short’s family has been in contact with three of the organ recipients. Paul Balthazar, of Massachusetts, the recipient of Short’s heart, attended the session with his family last year.
“When you lose your only child, you learn you are never going to get over it. After a while, you learn how to put on a happy face for the world. It’s when we are alone that it is the hardest. We have been fortunate, though. James had so many friends and they have adopted us. They have really helped us,” said Rod Short.
“We’re still sad. Of course we are. Life goes on. It has to. We’re still here. We try to turn this into something positive,” said Robinson.
“Sometimes the death of a child, especially an only child, can drive a couple apart. Losing James has kept us together and strengthened our love. He was a part of us,” said Robinson.