Sean Cirbus grew up in Chautauqua County, attending Maple Grove High School. Active in all sports from a young age, the game of hockey quickly became a passion. Competitive play with Lakers Youth Hockey and the Jamestown Jets Jr. Hockey teams would follow, opening the door for Sean to attend the university of Michigan, where he’d continue playing the sport en route to earning his Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience. Having been surrounded by the healthcare sector all his life, work for Boston-Scientific was a natural next step, where he specialized in cardiac device management.

Sean’s sudden passing at the age of 31 left his family wanting to do something significant to serve as the young man’s legacy. “We were obviously very saddened by losing him at such a young age, but we’re hopeful we can take this terrible tragedy and turn it into something positive. We’re hoping to create a project that attracts local medical students back to the community Sean cared so much about,” said his father, Dr. Jim Cirbus. “Some of his favorite ways to spend time were visiting friends and family on Chautauqua Lake each summer, and something that encourages others to do the same would have meant the world to him.”

Sean’s family did just that, and created a unique scholarship fund to serve as Sean’s legacy for the Chautauqua region. The Sean Cirbus Scholarship Fund will award loan repayment stipends to physicians who grew up in the area and return back to the region to practice medicine. The goal is to improve the community’s ability to compete for these talented professionals and reduce the shortage of healthcare providers locally. This is a unique and strategic approach that honors Sean by supporting the community he cared about.

Gifts to the Sean Cirbus Scholarship Fund honor the man it remembers, while helping incentivize healthcare professionals to return to and practice medicine in the region. To make a contribution to the fund, visit crcf.me/Cirbus today, call the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation office at 716-661-3390, or mail a check to 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation administers over 700 endowments in support of emerging community needs, charitable organizations and local students pursuing higher education. For more information visit www.crcfonline.org or contact Lisa Lynde, Donor Services Officer at 716-661-3390 or llynde@crcfonline.org.