Virginia Shirey, mother of a former Freeport Area School District student who recently died, wants her son’s memory to impact those benefiting from the same programs he did at Freeport.

Jonathan William Shirey died on March 9 at age 55 after a 17-month battle with cancer. Described as someone who will be remembered for his kindness, humility and selflessness, his mother made a $3,000 donation to Freeport athletics in his honor.

The money will be split three ways — toward football, basketball and track — the three sports Shirey lettered in while at Freeport.

Jonathan Shirey

After leaving Freeport and graduating from Duquesne University, Shirey moved to Ohio and had two children. His mother said Shirey became a referee for basketball and football games near Little Miami School District outside of Cincinnati.

“A lot of people in the Sarver area knew him and appreciated him,” Virginia said. “He was cremated out in Ohio and we had a celebration of life here for him at Buffalo United Presbyterian Church and we had a lot of people that came out.”

When Freeport’s school board accepted the donation Wednesday, June 10, those in attendance described him as someone that always cared for others.

“I think that Jon would have been very happy to see that money in honor of him was going toward helping others involved in the sports he was with,” Virginia Shirey said.

The Shirey family also sent some money to Ohio to benefit the Little Miami football program, where the student athletes will be wearing shirts during practice that celebrate “Jon.”