Lilbitofeverything
The Life of Rowan (Ruby) Shimer
2007–2022
Rowan (Ruby) Shimer
With heavy hearts, we mourn the tragic loss of Rowan (Ruby) Shimer due to injuries sustained in an accident.
Recently, Ruby had bravely come out as a transgender boy to his parents and a close group of friends, identifying as “he/they” and changed his name to “Rowan.” Over this past year, he was gradually coming out to family and friends. He was 14 years-old and days away from starting high school.
Our mission with this fund is to honor Rowan Shimer’s legacy by helping other LGBTQ+ kids and their families find the support and resources needed to manage their unique struggles with mental health. Please help by making a donation to The Trevor Project.
The Rowan Shimer Fund
Together we’ve raised over $37,000
Our family was special,
filled with unconditional love
Rowan was raised by Aaron and Jeanine Shimer in a house full of creativity, imagination, and fun. Most of all, love held the three of them together. Like a pack, when they had each other they had everything. Togetherness, unlimited hugs, and a shared sense of humor got them through anything.
❤️💛💚
Rowan had his Mom’s ability to make people feel special and supply unending loyalty for those he loved. An old soul, he had an unending sense of wonder and seemed to exist with a reflective wisdom—a mind with the ability to observe and uniquely document the world around him, especially his own.
With Dad, being silly and weird was more than possible, it was nurtured. Drawing and reading buddies, fellow gamers, and scholars of strange music and movies—off the path adventures were regularly constructed. They had a safe space for silliness. But Rowan’s quirky sense of humor and rich personality developed so much out of his own pursuits and unconventional mind. He had a way of unexpectedly nurturing your spirit.
Compassionate human
A passionate advocate and member of the LGBTQ+ and transgender communities, Rowan lived with the acute fear of rejection and mis-gendering, as well as the volatility of society’s acceptance and support of trans individuals. Through his personal struggle, he found strength in caring for and protecting his friends and other LGBTQ+ kids.
Team Rowan
A team for LGBTQ+ youth and their families, Team Rowan is on mission to honor Rowan Shimer by giving back, supporting transgender youth, helping the community and one another.
Artist and writer
Rowan was a prolific artist and writer, who started drawing at age 2 and never put a pencil down.
Stories and images would just pour out of him each day. Eventually, he used journaling and art to help him cope with depression, anxiety, and gender dysphoria. His collected works include hundreds of drawings and over five volumes of journals documenting his life—including life as an equestrian, his inner struggle with gender identity and life as a teen.
Music playlist
A collection of Rowan’s favorite songs. A truly unique and special person, his story cannot be told without the music that shapes and communicates the world through his eyes. So much of who he was, his love, his creativity, and identity are found in these songs.
“If I stop riding I won’t know what to do with myself… I don’t know who I am without horses!!”
— Rowan, April 2022
Horse lover and equestrian
Rowan’s time on the farm as a part of the barn community did more than change his life—it saved it many days.
Although he started riding at the age of six, as adolescence took hold, riding became more than a passion or activity. A gender neutral sport and welcoming community, riding gave him a sense of purpose, confidence, and belonging—a safe space for a transgender kid and an escape from his pain.
His focus on horses and riding was a persistent love for most of his 14 years. Once he began riding the obsession took hold, influencing his art and writing, as well as his heart.
“It feels amazing. I feel great. I feel free.”
— Rowan, August 2022
Life on the farm, caring for the horses, and show jumping were Rowan’s salvation. Even on his darkest days, riding raised him up, gave him ground to stand on and a saddle to canter in.
“The longer you’re around the longer you can see the developing story you create.”
— Rowan, March 2021
