Eli Sidler

Eli Alexander Sidler “Chemowarrior” Eli Sidler passed away on June 24th at the Hershey Medical Center from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer. As with every step of the journey, his parents were by his side when he took his last breath and passed peacefully. He was only 16 years old. Eli was born in Des Moines, IA on April 11, 1996. Diagnosed in 2004 when he was only eight, he fought hard for almost half his life, enduring over 60 rounds of chemotherapy, many radiation treatments and four surgeries to remove tumors from his spine. In March, disease progression left him paralyzed from the waist down. But despite all he went through, Eli almost never complained or asked “Why me?” He was our true Chemowarrior, a title bestowed on him by his father early in his treatment. Eli was an intelligent and loving boy, with a great sense of humor. He enjoyed playing video games, horror movies, The Lord of the Rings, and all types of swords and blades. His musical tastes ran the gamut from rap and Marilyn Mason through Frank Sinatra, the Beatles and Celtic music. He was honest, witty and irreverent, a realist to the end. Eli’s favorite place was the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, a location he got to visit seven times during his short life. He liked nothing better than rolling around in the surf and exploring the tide pools. He was planning to study marine biology had he been given the chance. His favorite food was cheese and he loved dining at Roburrito’s in York, El Rodeo, Passage to India and Friendly’s. Car picnics at Taco Bell and McDonald’s were a family tradition and he also enjoyed visiting the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire every summer. Most recently a 10th grade student at Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, Eli attended the Susquehanna Waldorf School from first through eighth grades. It was there that he attained a sense of self and inner strength that saw him through many tough times. Eli was also involved with THON, the Penn State student-run organization that raises money for The Four Diamonds Fund. In addition to cancer research, this Fund pays any uncovered medical expenses incurred by families whose children with cancer are being treated at the Hershey Medical Center. His THON sponsor organization was the Penn State Field Hockey Club and he found himself on the receiving end of the attentions of many young ladies, something he enjoyed quite a bit. In addition to his parents Bret and Susan Sidler of Cornwall, Eli is survived by his grandparents Robert and Irene Simko of Hershey, David and Darlene Eckert of Mount Gretna and Louis and Carmen Sidler of Palmyra; his great grandmother Helen Simko of Annville and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins. His family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at the Hershey Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York for the wonderful care he received. Eli’s motto was “just live life,” something he did until his body became too tired to fight any more. He was an amazing young man and he touched many people during his short life. His cremation was lovingly handled by Kreamer Funeral Home in Annville, PA. His family is planning an event to honor his life that will be held later this summer. Information will be posted on his CarePage website at www.carepages.com/carepages/chemowarrior. To remember Eli, donations in his name can be made to The Four Diamonds Fund, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033 or Susquehanna Waldorf School, 15 W. Walnut Street, Marietta, PA 17547. PDF Printable Version

Eli Sidler

April 11, 1996 - June 24, 2012