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In memory of a wonderful son… On September 29, Selwyn-Lloyd’s parents became aware that their son was unexpectedly no longer alive. This painful, brutal realization was incomprehensible. As we await the determination of this unbearable loss, we are left with the memories of a wonderful son. Selwyn-Lloyd John-Vincent McPherson II was born on 11-16-85 at Akron General Medical Center. This wonderful gift from God blossomed into a beautiful, sensitive, bright, respectful, and funny child. Anyone who met Selwyn-Lloyd when he was a child would immediately comment on his respect for everyone around him. Selwyn-Lloyd enjoyed his hyphenated middle name, which represented the first names of his grandfathers. Selwyn-Lloyd’s early education began at the Child Development Center (CDC), a nationally recognized Laboratory school at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, where his young brain was challenged to see things as they are and to question everything around him. He excelled by repeatedly asking “Why?” Selwyn-Lloyd was approved for a unique, excellent education from grade 1 to grade 8 at Old Trail School, an independent, coeducational day school in Bath, Ohio, which is the only independent school in the United States located within a national park. Apart from his achievement of an outstanding education, it was at that school in a secluded area that Selwyn-Lloyd got his first kiss; the remnants of that kiss he fondly retained in a quiet corner of his heart. After graduating from Old Trail School in 2000, Selwyn-Lloyd was accepted into the prestigious University School, an independent college preparatory all-boys high school in Hunting Valley, situated on 253 acres of forest, lake, and field across two campuses. There, Selwyn-Lloyd enjoyed the company of lasting friends, an incomparable education, a love for his violin, and an unwavering interest in photography, particularly in developing his films. After completing high school in 2004, Selwyn-Lloyd was invited to attend the following universities: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Princeton University, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, Brown University, Northwestern University, and Stanford University. Selwyn-Lloyd chose Stanford University, where he majored in Biomedical Computation (Computational Biology & Symbolic Systems) in 2008. Selwyn-Lloyd remained in California, where he worked in medical research, but ultimately followed his passion for analyzing and projecting the profitability of commodities. As would be expected, his conversations about his employment were above our heads. Selwyn-Lloyd’s heartfelt devotion to his beloved cat, Waffles, combined with his passion for creating elaborate, flavorful dishes, paints a vivid picture of his life filled with warmth, creativity, and companionship. At the time of his passing, we were overcome with emotions when we heard his employer talk about our son’s passion for hard work, his intellect, his politeness, and his sense of humor as he worked as a Software Engineer at Whitespace (an excellent company) with supporting contracts with the Air Force Research Laboratory. We will miss Selwyn-Lloyd’s smile, his laughter, wit, sense of humor, hugs, and his “I love you…” We will celebrate his life and remember his exciting travels with us to so many places; Guyana, Italy, Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago (Carnival), Martinique, St. Lucia, St.Thomas, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Antigua, Aruba, London, Paris, Pamplona Spain (running of the bulls), Mexico, Toronto, Illinois, Oklahoma, Florida, New York City, Alabama, Texas, Virginia, and North Carolina. However, Selwyn- Lloyd always found peace when he returned to his birthplace, Akron, OH, to rekindle old memories, celebrate his birthdays, and compete in the McPherson’s Invitational Golf competition, for which Selwyn-Lloyd, an avid golf enthusiast, always won, despite the changing complexity of the course. We were making plans to celebrate Selwyn-Lloyd’s 40th birthday on November 16 with many hugs and kisses. He was also aware that we would end the celebratory year with a visit to the Kingdom of Blue. With tear-filled eyes and hearts riveted with inexpressible grief, we will never forget our magnificent son, Selwyn-Lloyd John-Vincent McPherson II. The parents and extended families of Selwyn-Lloyd John-Vincent McPherson II.
