Peers help grad mourn father

Shumway — Shane Lewis, a graduating senior at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, got some special love and support from his peers and teachers on what was a great but terrible graduation day, June 11. That’s because Lewis’ father, also named Shane, died that morning — just a few hours before commencement — of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. He was 42 years old. At graduation, “each kid gave my son a red rose and he got a standing ovation,” grieving widow and proud mom Monika Lewis reported. “And the entire school is doing the ice bucket challenge” on its last day, she said. “They are being so supportive. VSAA is really an amazing community.”