WEEMS—Sean Joseph Lanigan, 31, of Weems passed away on August 4, 2024, at Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital in Kilmarnock. He had been out for an evening run and suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
Sean was born on April 21, 1993, to John and Nora Hennessy Lanigan. He grew up in the healthy small-town culture of Saranac Lake, N.Y. As a boy, Sean explored so many activities that brought him joy. He hiked, swam, biked, skied, sledded and skated. Sean played soccer, tennis, golf, lacrosse, rugby, basketball and football in youth programs and with friends and family. He played on high school soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams.
Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Sean also excelled musically, singing in chorus and the select Men’s Ensemble. He had great fun in the school musical, Guys and Dolls.
After high school, Sean attended SUNY New Paltz where he lived with the International Students and made many close friends from around the world.
Sean started his professional life at 15, busing tables at Whiteface Club in Lake Placid, N.Y. He worked at The Point on Upper Saranac Lake and then, after college, went to Raquette Lake where, as maitre d’, he helped open the historic Adirondack Great Camp “Lake Kora” as a luxury lodging property. When Kora closed each winter, Sean travelled to the company’s New Zealand property, Annandale, at Akaroa, for the southern hemisphere’s summer season.
After three years of this travel, Sean met Amy Rudd and soon joined her in North Carolina, where he worked at Elon University, opening the restaurant at the new Inn at Elon. From there, he and Amy moved to Charlottesville and Sean joined Marigold, a new restaurant at Keswick Hall resort. This April, Sean and Amy moved again when he became general manager of, and opened, the new Salt and Meadow restaurant at the Tides Inn in Irvington.
Sean was very dedicated to his work, but continued to pursue other lifelong passions. He was an avid sports fan and supported the N.Y. Giants and Knicks, Duke U, and Everton. He was a serious sports card collector. He had climbed several of the Adirondack High Peaks. Sean read widely, from Game of Thrones to organized crime, to sports biographies. He maintained his childhood love of Harry Potter. Sean loved travel and had enjoyed trips with his dad to Uruguay and Australia. With Amy, Sean found that every trip was the trip of a lifetime. Their recent destinations included Montreal, Slovenia and Croatia, and also Costa Rica. Sean loved sharing his interests and lived his life with great enthusiasm.
Sean is survived by his beloved fiancée, Amy Rudd of Weems.
He is also survived by his mother and stepfather, Nora and Keith Smith of Paul Smiths, N.Y., and his father, John Lanigan of Plattsburgh, N.Y. Other survivors include many aunts and uncles, and numerous cousins who treated him like a brother. In addition, Amy’s parents, Terry and Danny Rudd survive, along with Amy’s sister, Sharon (Daryl) Norris and their children.
Even more than his professional success, Sean valued the loving bonds he was able to forge with the people around him. To honor Sean’s memory, let someone know you appreciate them. “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” Sean was an organ donor. Please consider registering if you haven’t already.
There will be a casual celebration of Sean’s life and a chance to share some favorite memories at the Paul Smith’s College VIC from 3-5 p.m. Monday, September 9.
In lieu of flowers, you might donate to your local volunteer rescue squad, American Heart Association or any organization of your choice.
Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 is assisting the family with Sean’s arrangements. Family and friends wishing to remember Sean can send a condolence, share a memory and sign the guest book at www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.
