Sean Gonia, a three-time St. Cloud school record holder an NCC Rookie-of-the-year was killed on Saturday as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in St. Cloud.

Sean was born on November 28, 1980 to Laur and Sylvia (Stankus) in Fayetteville, AR, and grew up in Princeton, WI. He attended St. Cloud State University (SCSU) majoring in aviation graduating with honors in 2003. Sean was one of twenty-six graduates to be awarded SCSU’s Excellence in Leadership. Sean was working towards his master’s degree in technology education at SCSU.

Sean excelled as a SCSU Varsity swimmer for four years and became one of the most dominant distance swimmers in school history. He consistently scored in the top three in NCC Conference meets in the 200, 500, and 1650 freestyle. In 2001, Sean was the conference champion in the 1650. He was named NCC Rookie of the Year, two time Husky MVP and captained the team in 2003. He set three school swim records.

Sean had a passion for motorcycling and for flying. He was an Assistant Chief Flight Instructor for Wright-Aero, an adjunct aviation faculty member at SCSU, and an instructor at the SCSU Safety Center. Sean was rated as a Commercial Pilot, CFI, CFII, and MEI.

Sean is survived by his parents, Laur and Sylvia of Fond du Lac, WI, sister Tara of St. Cloud and a multitude of family and friends in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and throughout the U.S.

Memorials are preferred to Sean’s family in lieu of flowers to establish an Aviation Scholarship at SCSU in his name