CLICK ON PHOTO FOR SLIDESHOW, 21 images

The smiles and tears of over 150 friends and family members of Andrew Seffernick filled the Alki Bathhouse Sunday May 15. His sturdy metal art work was displayed on tables lining the wall, and his one-of-a-kind welded bicycles, which some might also consider metal art work, were gathered in a corner. His customized skateboards leaned against the wall, inside and out.

This was a memorial to celebrate the West Seattle resident's short life, which ended on his motorcycle which was hit by a car April 13 at Juneau and 35th, just shy of his 25th birthday. He left behind his two year-old son, A.J. (Andrew Jr.) A.J. was in the front row with his mother, Karra Malone.

You can read our stories about Andrew Seffernick here:

and here:

"I found a piece of old growth timber underneath a house's crawl space Andrew and I were cleaning out because the house was being sold," his father, Bob, told the West Seattle Herald, pointing to an 11-foot, six-inch board with bright stripes leaning vertically against the wall, resembling a narrow surf board.

"He made a skateboard out of it," Bob said. "There were eight people on it at one time. One was at least 300 pounds. The wheels got put on another board. Andrew had only so many wheels to work with."

"I keep learning new things about Andrew now that I'd never known," said Andrew's uncle, Howard Boyd, a musician and performer. He has been with the Breeder's Theater for many years. "As an artist I knew him very intimately. That was our main connection, through the arts. His woodwork was just amazing. We'd spend hours on the beach picking up driftwood and I would just, you know, look at at. But he would look at it and see something, and make something with it. How did he even know it was in there?"

"I'm 41 and he was 24," said West Seattle computer tech Michael Eric von Kempf. "I looked up to him. He was one of my biggest inspirations because he pulled out all the stops and did what his heart desired, only, and nothing more. His skills were more marketable than a lot of people's skills. But he did t for the art. When he was done fulfilling his soul in one area he'd move on and fulfill his soul in another."

Andrews brother-in-law, Mel Carson, emceed. "I always get chosen because my initials are 'M.C,'" he quipped to lighten the tone a bit. "I was going to say 'I am surprised to see so many people here', but I'm not surprised at all."

Carson, the husband of Andrew's sister, Ashley, pointed out the numerous lives Andrew touched.

Musicians Johnny Bregar and Josh LaBelle performed. LaBelle, Andrew's uncle, is the executive director of the Seattle Theatre Group, which includes the Paramount and the Moore theaters.

Following speeches, some attendees exited, hopped their skateboards, or skateboards made by Andrew, and straddled wacky bicycles Andrew had configured and went for a ride along Alki in his honor.