Tyler Seaman, at 18, remembered for his thirst for life

Wherever Tyler Seaman was, laughter was never far behind. That is how those closest to him would like to remember the 2010 Calhoun High School graduate, who died Oct. 29 after a long battle with chordoma. He was 18.

Seaman, of Merrick, was first diagnosed with the rare form of cancer in December 2006. Chordoma is a malignant bone cancer that develops in the skull base and spine, and affects only about 300 people in the U.S. every year, according to the non-profit Chordoma Foundation.

Though the disease caused Tyler to miss parts of his freshman and junior years at Calhoun, he never lost the spirit that he uniquely possessed, his brother Marley said. “He was always looking for a good time,” Marley said. If anything, being sick only brought out Tyler’s thirst for life more.

Seaman was passionate about many subjects and refused to let cancer consume his life, Marley said. He loved comedy, music and food — passions that grew over time. He particularly enjoyed baking and cooking with his mother, Diane, a trustee on the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District and the Merrick Elementary District boards of education.

He also spent time playing music with Marley and his father, Gary. The trio played classic Allman Brothers’ songs. Tyler saw the Allman Brothers more than 10 times through the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tyler took friends, family and his brothers, Marley and Jonah, to enjoy the experience with him.

Some of Tyler’s happiest moments were spent during summers at Camp Baco in the Adirondack Mountains. The camp was a second home for Seaman, where he could enjoy the outdoors and perform as the athlete he was, particularly excelling at tennis. He spent the past summer as a junior counselor, where the soccer team he helped coach won a regional tournament on his 18th birthday.