Gavin’s Guestbook
Please use this google form to submit memories of Gavin. This page will be updated daily with submissions.
We’re also working on creating a video for the family so please send any photo or video submissions to video@gavinslegacy.com
Share Your Memories Here
“I (Declan) can remember leaving the house without Gavin thinking he was going to be late to his own wedding. His finger was so broken he couldn’t wear a real wedding ring so we had to use a rubber one. At the end of the wedding, him and Sarah decided to stay at their home with all their friends staying there instead of going to the hotel cause that’s how they wanted to celebrate their wedding day.
I (Morgan) remember waiting at the hotel with Gavin and his groomsmen while Sarah and the rest of the bridesmaids were finishing getting ready. He sat down at the hotel’s grand piano and started playing “Same Drugs” by Chance the Rapper on the piano and some of us were singing along. I was so nervous cause I didn’t know the choreography to his and Sarah’s wedding party dance but so excited to officially have Sarah as my sister in our family. Gavin and Sarah were ripping up the dance floor per usual.”
— Declan & Morgan Escobar
“When I first met Gavin, he was training for the NFL. At the same time, friends and I were training for an endurance event. He was always down to train and get after it so I invited him to come with us. Ironically, in order to get ready for this event, we needed to do fireman carries. Gavin was the biggest dude we all knew so he seemed like a good candidate to train with.
Even though we barely knew Gavin, our group and him took turns fireman carrying one another uphill on loop. He did it with a laugh and a smile. He put his head down and went.
That's how I knew him. He would walk through a wall for you or carry you up a hill. He charged in head first to being a husband and a father. He always did it with his calm demeanor and that little smile he always had.
He will always be missed. We love you and the Escobar Family.”
— Brandon Jansma
“Late nights playing video games, finding a camcorder and getting to document hours of Gavin being Gavin. I got passed out drunk in palm springs so Gavin covered and surrounded me with every plant and tree in the house, so i would wake up thinking i was in the jungle. There will never be another Gavin. My heart is broken for the Escobar family .”
-Seth Davis
“We have known Gavin since he was born. Erin his mom and I are like sister, so our kids grew up knowing each other. We remember Gavin as a young child, always wanting to be faster, stronger, higher and better. We remember him on a water slide on our deck. He flew down fast laughing having a great time. As he played football in HS and then College, I remember telling him, only a few make it to the NFL, but never give up. Thats who he was, he never gave up. He had the love for a challenge, whether it was football, becoming an Firefighter or raising a family. He will be missed but forever in our hearts. Hugs and support to all of his family.”
-Mimi and Derol Niebuhr
“We have such wonderful memories of Gavin from Little League days in Princeton. Our hearts are broken for Gavin's entire family. Love to all, Brian Davey Maureen & Tom”
-Dunlap Family
“Every time I had a conversation, call or text or really even hung out with Gav I would describe it as three things: for sure funny, definitely weird, and always good. He was an expert at wrapping it all together.
As Gav was working through the hiring process and getting into Fire he asked if I could be a reference. Said yeah sure of course. Figured his references were probably like Jason Witten, Jerry Jones, maybe Josey's skate coach and then me. Be in good and capable company. But every time I got a phone call about him I quickly realized he asked me the school teacher to do it cuz he figured I could keep my shit together and cover for him. Every question asked I'm sifting through memories to keep it PG and not get him rejected. You know when they ask describe Gavin's passions or what does he like to do outside of work I'm thinking like omg dude paints and skates and camps all of these things but i was just honest and always talked about him and his family. But that was truth they were his absolute passion.
At some point probably starting back around Winter of 2009 Gav and I would always say this phrase to each other when asking how something was going. “It's the best.“
Everytime we'd check in it'd always be "it's the best."
Howd that workout go? it's the best
How's class going? it's the best
Eventually hey how's Dallas or how's training camp? It's the best
How's it having a baby? It's the best.
How's it being married? It's the best
How's how having a second kid? It's the best.
He'd always say it.
He reached out after we had our daughter asked me how it's going? We were struggling she cried nonstop, didn't sleep. I jokingly responded “it's the worst.“ He said nahh, it's the best. I said it is the best. Absolute best.
Sarah, Josey and Charlotte you are and will always be Gavin's best. I hope everyone of us can always remind you of that and support in everyway possible. Love you Gav.”