In loving memory of Tyler and in honor of his 21st birthday on April 20th, we kindly request donations to support the Inova Kellar Center and the mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs they provide for children and adolescents.

In donating, you will help young people like Tyler who struggle with mental health issues and substance use disorders. Your donation will also help us raise awareness of the fentanyl crisis in Loudoun County and across the country.

Tyler’s life was full of promise but was taken from us far too soon.  On August 17, 2020, at the young age of 19, Tyler lost his life to an accidental fentanyl overdose. Unable to be smelled or tasted, fentanyl gained popularity in the illicit drug market in 2017 as a way to increase the effect and addictive properties of other street drugs. Fentanyl overdose is now the leading cause of death in the United States for adults aged 18-45.

Tyler was a gifted musician and mathematician.  Growing up, he spent his summers coding at Princeton, analyzing algorithms at Yale, and creating computer operating systems at UCLA. He taught himself to play the piano and harmonica, and was a trombonist in the Loudoun County High School Marching Band.

Tyler could make anyone laugh, showed selfless kindness to those around him, and had a unique talent to connect individually with every person he met. He was silly and happy and always the entertainer. His versatility ranged his outfits from bow ties to Sperry’s and Hawaiian shirts, and his music from heavy rap to classic rock and Lana Del Rey. He was our resident Star Wars scholar and reigning lip sync champion.

Even though Tyler had his struggles, he faced them with enormous courage, determination, and a desire to be his best self. He graduated from Loudoun County High School in 2019 and was majoring in math at the University of Illinois Chicago.

April 20th, 2022 would be Tyler's 21st birthday. To celebrate Tyler's birthday and raise funds to support children suffering with mental health and substance use disorders, we welcome you to dine with us at DC Prime in Ashburn, VA .  DC Prime will be donating 15% of the restaurants proceeds on April 20th to support the Inova Kellar Center.  You can make reservations at dcprimesteaks.com or by calling 703.840.2099.

You can also learn more about Tyler's life in the recently released book, The Worst Thing: A Sister’s Journey Through her Brother’s Addiction and Death, by Tyler's sister and author Alexis Young. This candid memoir that exposes the secrecy, myths, and destruction related to addiction. Alexis brings light to Tyler’s life and his battle with addiction that ultimately led to the tragic death of a brilliant mind and kind soul.