Meet Owen
Owen was smart, funny, artistic, athletic, and deeply admired by both peers and teachers. He was humble, earnest, hardworking, and compassionate — the kind of person who made others feel seen. When you spoke with Owen, he had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room.
Owen Willers died unexpectedly on Father’s Day, June 16, 2024, just two weeks after graduating from high school in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 18 years old and preparing to attend Davidson College to study psychology that fall.
In high school, Owen was elected by his peers to leadership positions, served on Honor Council, received awards for loyalty, character, and art, and was chosen to deliver the benediction at graduation. But more importantly, he embodied the kinds of qualities described as “eulogy virtues” rather than “resume virtues” — kindness, integrity, humility, empathy, and quiet strength.
To many, Owen seemed like the kid who had it all.
But like so many young people today, Owen quietly struggled with anxiety.
On the night of his death, Owen experienced a severe anxiety attack and took a combination of prescribed medication and over-the-counter sleep aids in an effort to calm down and rest. It was not an intentional overdose, but a tragic accident.
There is no sensational story. Just a kind, brilliant, deeply human young man who lost a battle too many people are fighting alone.
The Goldfinch Foundation was created in Owen’s memory to shine a light on the importance of mental health, social connection, and overall wellness — and to help ensure that no young person feels they must struggle in silence.
Owens Art
“I love representing emotions and feelings through art that cannot be characterized into words. In my life, creating art is my way of processing thoughts, important decisions, and complex emotions“
— Owen Willers
