Andrew John Paxton

Andrew grew up in Pacific Grove, California where he attended elementary and middle school, graduating from Pacific Grove High School in 2012. Having been active in Boy Scouts, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and local sports, Andrew distinguished himself as a premier athlete in lacrosse, baseball, wrestling, soccer and football. He was part of the 2006 Bronco All Star team that went to the Bronco World Series in Monterey and played in the Don Piper Invitational. Starting with the local Tribe lacrosse team, Andrew played four years of Breaker lacrosse, receiving the coveted “Tough Nut” award as a Freshman, was named MVP, Team Captain and 1st Team All League. As a running back for Breaker football, Andrew was voted Most Valuable Offensive Player his Freshman year, Most Inspirational Player in his JV year and was chosen for 2nd Team All League his varsity year. He also placed 1st in MTAL at 160 pounds in JV wrestling.

After graduation in 2012, Andrew and his twin brother Michael received 50% scholarships to St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, North Carolina playing on the Knight’s nationally ranked lacrosse team. Andrew returned to Pacific Grove as the Breaker Lacrosse Assistant Head Coach in 2013 where he led the team to an extremely successful season in a very competitive league.

After attending Mesa Community College for a year in San Diego, where he coached a local middle school lacrosse team, Andrew joined the US Coast Guard, completing basic training in Cape May, New Jersey in August of 2015, where he was a Squad Leader for his Recruit Company, November 191. He received special recognition from the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, Admiral Paul Zukunft, for Seamanship, out of 80 recruits. Due to his exceptional performance at Boot Camp, Andrew received a coveted posting as an Apprentice Seaman to the US Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay near Garibaldi, Oregon where he was completing qualifications to be part of a 4-man 47 ft. Motor Life Boat lifesaving crew at the time of his passing.

Andrew is survived by his twin brother Michael, now a Junior at UCSD in the prestigious Neuroscience program; and his older brother Navy Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Thomas, who just completed a 10-month combat deployment aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson; his mother Laura and step-father Brian, father Dean and his extended family in Woodland, Sacramento and Auburn, California.

Graveside services for Andrew will take place at 11AM on October 10, 2015 at the El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove; followed by a Celebration of Life at 1PM at Carmel Presbyterian Church in Carmel. In lieu of flowers Andrew’s family requests that donations be made on his behalf to a special fund now being developed where the proceeds will be dispersed to organizations serving local US Veterans.

Andrew’s family has established a special page on Facebook to communicate the most current information and requests with family and friends. On Facebook go to the Andrew Paxton Fund For Veterans and Their Families.