Long Beach Post: Shaun Lumachi, Co-Founder and Publisher of the Long Beach Post, Dead at 33

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Shaun Lumachi, Co-Founder and Publisher of the Long Beach Post, Dead at 33

by Greggory Moore | Staff Reports | 12.05.11 |

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How are we supposed to cover this? But at the same time, how can we not?

Shaun Lumachi, our publisher, leader, our little engine always looking for little way we could, was killed today in a car crash in Florida. He was 33. He is survived not only by his wife Dezire and other family, but by the Long Beach community he so dearly loved.

This terrible news has just come to us, and so we have few details and are only beginning to process this great and shocking loss. But several of us feel compelled here to share a few preliminary words.

Shaun was�It seems unbelievable to use the past tense with Shaun, because he embodied a kind of quiet but unflagging energy that seemed a permanent

fixture of this city, this world. But life is impermanent, and Shaun was alive, to be sure.

Shaun was alive to his chosen community, Long Beach. The Long Beach Post came into existence because Shaun loved this community enough to want to contribute to the general conversation about what happens here, with the ultimate goal of raising life in Long Beach to another level.

Shaun was open-minded regarding the ways in which that conversation could be held, which is one of the big reasons the Long Beach Post has made unique contributions to that conversation.

There is much more to be said � and that will be said � about Shaun, but for now I just want to say how truly sad I am, for myself and for all of us, truly said that we have lost a true individual who kept his community at heart.

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13 Comments so far.

John B. Greet
Well said, Greggory!

Long Beach Community Memb
May he Rest in Peace

Dave Harmon
My condolences to his family and the many social families he was at the center of. He will be missed by many.

Paul
Terrible news to hear about such a young and talented person. My condolences to The Post Family.

Robert Proctor
Condolences to Mr. Lumachi's family and to the extended family of our community that he covered with personal comittment. Long live his legacy in _The Post_ and my reading it will inspire my commitment to my community. RIP.

Sander
The last time I spoke with Shaun, we had quite an argument. He felt that something I wrote was needlessly unkind, and urged me to remove the offending paragraph from my article. We went back and forth for nearly an hour and, in the end, we came to a compromise that satisfied us both. This, to me, was the essence of Shaun. Not only was he willing to fight for what he believed in, but he was also willing to hear other points of view, and even change his mind. Even though many things I wrote over the years were controversial, he never discouraged me. He said, "I'll take the heat. That's my job." At the end of our last conversation, after that compromise had been struck, I told him quite sincerely, "I love you, man." I'm really glad those were my last words to him.

I can't quite wrap my mind around the idea of his loss. He was so deeply and enthusiastically involved in so many aspects of municipal life. I hope, in the week to come, to reach out to those who served with him on arts boards, and encourage them to share some of their personal reflections.

We will carry on without you, Shaun, but it will never be the same.

jend70
Thank you for saying such kinda words about Shaun. He was an amazing person and if it weren't for him and my cousin (his wife) I don't think I'd be where I am today. They took me in and I am so saddened about his loss. He will be missed.

Sig
In Hoc

Birdman of long beach
I just read this sad news and he was only 33 years old. What a sad week and my heart goes out to his family and friends and everyone at the long beach post and my good friends Judy & Kate. He and his family has our prayers. This is really sad.

Judy Griffith
I did not know him. But I have tears in my eyes for everyone.

Robin
I am so sorry for your loss. I did not know Shaun, I've just been reading the Post regularly. I started reading about local HS athletics and have continued reading for the great local news. He definitely contributed to our community and had a positive effect on people who never had the pleasure of meeting him.

Allison Jean Eaton
This is absolutely shocking. His family and friends are in my thoughts during this most difficult time.

Daniel Gutierrez
I have never witnessed so many beautiful stories about one person as I have here about the love and admiration everyone has felt for Shaun. I myself have had the blessing of working closely with Shaun over the last year. As he quickly grew to be a great mentor to myself as well to my friend Dennis Dean, showing us what it would take for us to "get the job done" every day we were to show up to the office. Shaun was never once "a Boss" to me; he was a teacher and an innovator that inspired everyone he spoke to. Whenever Shaun would speak to anyone in the office, I would listen intently knowing that his words always held a lesson or unique perspective.

There was so much more that Shaun had to give the world, we unfortunately have only seen a glimpse of what he was to become. Some people dream of the ability to at some point in their lives to move a mountain... Shaun moved one every single day he showed up to work. We treated each other like brothers and, to say the least, I will truly miss him like one...