Posted on March 29, 2007
Graduate student Evin Shoap, 23, died over the weekend at Fairfax Memorial Hospital following a battle with a life-long heart condition. Born Jan. 20, 1984, he was the son of Allan and Carla Shoap, and brother to Miriam Shoap.
He graduated in 2002 from W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax.
At the age of 8 months he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart muscle and affects its function. At 15, Shoap received a heart transplant.
While an undergraduate student at JMU, he used his experience to help others as founder and president of the JMU chapter of Students for Organ and Tissue Donation, a non-profit organization to educate the public and increase donations.
Shoap was a member of JMU Hillel, an organization for Jewish students, and traveled to Israel in the summer of 2005 through Hillel’s Birthright program. He was also an active member of the Breeze staff, where he served as a senior photographer and mentor to others.
In May 2006 he completed his undergraduate career with a double major in English and secondary education and began work towards a master of arts in teaching. He was scheduled to graduate in May 2007.
He was buried Tuesday afternoon in Fall’s Church following a service at Temple B’Nai Shalom in Fairfax Station.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to a heart or transplant charity.
