Liam Near, Drowning, Cause of Death, Bremerton, Washington

 Liam Near drowned in Bremerton, Washington; cause of death: It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the untimely death of Liam Near, a beloved UW School of Music graduate who touched countless communities with his friendship, teaching, and music.

In addition to being a proud member of the Husky Marching Band sousaphone section from 2016 to 2020, Liam earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2020. His thunderous voice, contagious enthusiasm, and sense of unity were the lifeblood of each performance. Liam was more than just a bandmate to those who marched with him; he was family.

Liam committed himself to teaching and using music to improve young people after graduating. Prior to his most recent positions at Crownhill Elementary and Mountain View Middle School in Bremerton, he taught at McKenna Elementary and Lackamas Elementary in Yelm. The only thing that could rival his passion for music was his affection for his students. He brought happiness, tolerance, and sincere concern to every classroom because he firmly believed in the transformational potential of education.

Additionally, Liam continued to encourage and assist kids in meaningful and inventive ways while working with Kids in Concert, an after-school music and youth development program in Kitsap County.

Liam has a broad and lively musical range as a performer. He contributed his distinct sound to the local psychedelic surf alt-rock band, The Coozies, and played sousaphone with Red Alert, the former Kraken Band. Regardless of the setting—a stadium, a classroom, or a local performance—Liam's music and himself were vibrant.

Liam's warmth, humor, humility, and limitless heart were all part of the event. He elevated others with ease, gave freely of himself, and exuded a radiance that made everyone around him feel appreciated and seen.

This Saturday, August 23, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Kingston Village Green Community Center in Kingston, Washington, will host a Celebration of Life. It is open to everyone who knew and loved Liam in order to pay tribute to him and take part in the tales and music that shaped his remarkable life.

We send our sincerest sympathies to Liam's friends, family, coworkers, students, and bandmates. His legacy endures in every person he touched, every note he played, and every new musician he inspired to believe in themselves. His absence leaves an incalculable vacuum.

Liam, may you rest in peace.