BY BREE STALEY

Staff Writer

Ty Kesten was a person whose positive outlook, dedication, and infectious smile made him stand out from the crowd. He was close to his family, had lots of friends, and was well-liked by all who knew him.
“He was everyone’s best friend,” Ty’s sister, sophomore Tommie Kesten, said.
Ty Kesten, a junior at Baldwin High School, died in a motocross accident in Sparta, Ga., on March 13.
“He wasn’t afraid of dying. He was afraid of not living,” his sister said.
Kesten lived most of his life doing what he loved most, motocross. He competed in competitions all across the country.
“He was great at every action sport, whether it was motocross, BMX, scootering, snowboarding, and anything else,” Kesten’s friend Paul Knerr said.
Physical education teacher Tim Laughlin often discussed motocross with Kesten, since Laughlin’s brother used to race.
“We traded stories and racing experiences. He already knew that motocross was what he wanted to do for a living,” Laughlin said.
Laughlin also talked about Kesten’s positivity.
“He had a great energy about him and always had a smile on his face,” Laughlin said.
Kesten’s motivation to succeed was readily apparent. Many of Kesten’s teachers were impressed by his work ethic and positive attitude.
“Ty was very trustworthy — one of the most dependable and responsible students I’ve had. He took his work seriously and had a strong work ethic,” Michelle Jenkins, Kesten’s English teacher this year, said.
“He was always respectful. I will miss him greatly,” she said.
His death has had a big impact on the school community.
“A lot of people are just so supportive,” his sister said. “Everyone who knew him was affected by this.”
Senior Max Milan, who is a neighbor of the Kesten family, was one of the many people in the community affected by his passing.
“He was a very caring kid who was lots of fun to be around,” Milan said. “He worked hard at everything he did.”
A vigil was held in Kesten’s honor at St. Albert the Great Church in Baldwin, to give students an opportunity to grieve together and to share their favorite memories of Kesten.
“Every time with him was a good memory,” Knerr said. “He was always doing crazy stuff and we always had fun together.”
Kesten will be missed, but he will not be forgotten, his sister pledged.
“We are never going to forget him,” she said. “It’s not going be the same without him.”
Years ago, the Kesten family lost another child, a son named Tommy.
Because of that, Tommie Kesten said, the final sentence of Ty’s obituary has special meaning to family and friends: “Now the gates of heaven are open and someone’s standing there. It’s Tommy, your big brother, to love and hold you near.”