This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
This has to be done sensitively and honorably, and I need your help.
Somehow, in the context of next September's Utah-BYU football game, there must be a way to celebrate the lives of Elsie Mahe and Hayes Tate, children who have died in the past week.
As difficult as these developments have been for their families and for anyone familiar with Sunny and Reno Mahe and Savanna and Steve Tate, the support that has emerged from both sides of the rivalry has been encouraging.
Elsie Mahe, who died after an in-home accident, was a 3-year-old daughter of BYU's running backs coach. Hayes Tate, who had cancer, was a 20-month-old son of a former Utah defensive back. When the news came Sunday, Reno Mahe reached out to Steve Tate via Twitter: "I love you bro! Tate and Elsie will be watching over us."
Steve Tate responded: "Love you too brother. I know that our angels are together lifting our families up at this time."
Maybe they can influence all of us.
Their parents certainly have made a great impression amid adversity that I can't even imagine, having never been a father. The Tribune's Gordon Monson has written eloquently about Elsie. Hayes, born among triplets, fought cancer for most of his brief life.
The Mahes have promoted organ donation via their daughter and the Tates have supported cancer research. Even while knowing that Hayes soon would die, Savanna and Steve were proud that their son was featured during "Jimmy V Week," ESPN's annual observance of cancer awareness that honors the late Jim Valvano.
Via Instagram, Steve Tate wrote Sunday, "One of the more important things Hayes taught us was it was OK to smile in times of fear. Hayes always smiled. He was an angel. Hayes' impact on this world is evident by the amount of love and support we have felt from all over the world."
I hope those feelings can be perpetuated, for the sake of both Mahes and the Tates, for as long as possible.
Twitter: @tribkurt