We interrupt Chris’s life of comedy with a moment of seriousness...
I found out the other day that a person I knew in a former life hanged himself. His name was Shannon McFadden. He was my age. Many who know about New Jersey skateboarding know the guy used to kill it on a skateboard--even recently I heard he had been killing the KCDC miniramp. But it's safe to say that skateboarding was his most redeeming quality.
I don’t have much to say on this matter. He and I lost contact many years ago. Last time I ran into him I told him that a close friend of ours, Chris Marshall, had died. He said, “Bummer. So what else is going on?" I walked away and said I would never speak to him again.
And I didn’t.
But we had some good times early on and he was an amazing skateboarder. Funny how skateboarding can bring people together and make you look past people’s shortcomings. At least when I was younger it could.
I'm not quite sure what I want to say here. I feel bad for him and his family and his sister, who found him.
Crissie and I are so focused on the baby coming, entrenched in the idea of life, that this death has blindsided me. I did not expect to feel this surge of emotion. A few years ago, when we were shopping for a home, we visited a house where an elderly couple had passed away a couple years prior and their family had ransacked the home. Old photos and slides lay in puddles of water in the basement--an entire life documented and strewn on the floor. It broke my heart.
I used to shoot a lot of photos of Shannon 10, 15 years ago. Here are a few that I found. They say the internet never forgets. So may these photos linger on.
Rest in peace, Shannon.
May your next go round be a smoother ride.
CHRIS NIERATKO
Sorry to hear, Chris. The photo with the cops is great and the last one - WOW.
Posted by: Grant | 14/05/2009 at 16:36
geez, what a bummer. anybody know why he took his own life?
Posted by: bumrush | 14/05/2009 at 17:20
i don't want to know. that's always the biggest downer of them all. sorry chris...
Posted by: olga | 14/05/2009 at 17:30
Unfortunate but good post. Sometimes you just don't know what to think when things like this hit you.
Posted by: Tommy Was Large | 14/05/2009 at 17:33
Sometimes its not how we check out but how we lived our lives while on top. You put the best memory of your friend forward. Thank you for reminding me of everyone whose gone that I've forgotten. Good luck with the birth.
Posted by: Stitch Up | 14/05/2009 at 17:41
"The internet never forgets"....I like that.
RIP
Posted by: kool fartz | 14/05/2009 at 18:25
ouch.
it doesnt stop happening.
suicides is the worst one. I lost Derrick Plourde that way.
makes me wish to be more forgiving...
skating is a big family, one I needed many times...
-brett
Posted by: brett | 14/05/2009 at 20:03
sucks to hear chris. i remember him back when you used to do the big brother gig. that was good times. RIP
Posted by: cp | 14/05/2009 at 20:55
Wtf, this isn't skinema
Posted by: Trevor | 15/05/2009 at 07:30
Thanks for the good photos and memories... I was skating and chillen with him a few days earlier..He was cool ass motherfucker that i knew for 15yrs skating..YOU will be missed my friend...
Posted by: phil ladjanski | 18/05/2009 at 08:52
Why did you guys edit out all the interesting parts in this post?
http://www.viceland.com/wp/2009/05/meet-the-nieratkos-a-death/#more-8601
Posted by: what? | 20/05/2009 at 08:34
This just sucks...RIP Shannon you mad mo fo! I hadn't heard about Chris Marshall too. Jeesh, good times with all. Peace.
Posted by: J. Liggett | 02/06/2009 at 17:54
SHANNON YOU WERE MY HOMIE AND ALWAYS WILL BE!!!! I ALWAYS HAD A GREAT TIME SKATING WITH YOU CAUSE UR SKILLS WERE JUST SO DOPE!!!! I'M GONNA MISS YA BRO!!!!!! R.I.P.
Posted by: THAT KID RICH | 03/06/2009 at 18:17
from meetn him slayerville sk8park behind the police station, to eatontown sk8 nght, to riding on ABF shop together, to moving to FL, s.p.o.t. all ages, miami trips, then back to repping all spots and bars from nj2nyc. i love you kid, he was my brother from another mother in his words. your sk8ng will always live in my heart, and i will keep all memories of you with me always. rest and rip a sesh in peace...- Brian Carlisle
Posted by: Brian carlisle | 05/06/2009 at 16:54
Yo Chris... It's Glenn Bivins... Sucks so BAD to hear about Shannon... He was one of my best friends for years!!!! I hate to hear that he was in sooo much pain as to do that to himself....
What happened to Marshall??? He was another close friend of mine as well...
Hope your doing well bro!!
peace..
Posted by: Glenn Bivins | 07/06/2009 at 17:30
this is my email for anyone who wants to send pics to. bcedge80@gmail.com. i'm trying to have a small get together of shannon's good friends during his bday weekend(go sk8day wknd). some whiskey and guiness and sharing good stories at a bar that will bump his ipod. this will be in brklyn or queens, email me if interested
Posted by: Brian carlisle | 09/06/2009 at 03:29
hey thanks for writing this chris... it's aaron silverman. i heard about this a few days ago and it really shook me up. like you, it has been many years since i have seen or spoke with shannon, but i have many memories of skating and partying with both of you. your right, shannon did kill it on a skateboard, when no one else would touch something, shannon would usually give it a try. at a certain time in my life him and i were really good friends and spend many, many days and nights out there skaing. he used to push me to go bigger and i'll always remember that about him.
i don't know what drove him to take his life and i guess i never will but i hope that he has found peace and i like the way you finished by saying i hope his next go is a smoother ride.
RIP shannon mcfadden
i hope you are doing well chris and good luck with your new home and family!! i still read all the mags... so keep up the good work!
cheers, aaron
Posted by: aaron silverman | 12/06/2009 at 21:05
I didn't know Shannon that long but he touched my life hard and left me wanting more. Anyone interested in having a few guiness and whiskeys should come to Mojito Loco on Meserole in Brooklyn on go sk8day night.
Posted by: Dave | 21/06/2009 at 16:31
Here are some pics I took of Shannon SK8ing...
http://gallery.me.com/liggy#100515
Posted by: J.liggett | 22/07/2009 at 16:56
all i can say is wow. skating in new brunswick back in the day with harry and aaron and shannon etc was and still is some the best days of my life. sucks to hear, dude was super legit and those 3 pushed me to try always skate harder and try new stuff.. sucks to find out this way
Posted by: josh | 03/12/2010 at 20:17
w.t.f. was trying to find some old homies and this is what ifound. you will be missed shannon. lots of good memories, kendall.
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