Help us continue Ian’s legacy of bravery, kindness, and investment in science by donating to the Ian Larew Memorial Fund. The Memorial Find will honor Ian through a scholarship fund, advance pediatric brain cancer research and acts of kindness to support children and families affected by pediatric cancer.

Ian Larew, age 12, passed away surrounded by his parents after a courageous 1,473 day battle with Anaplastic Ependymoma, a childhood brain cancer. While his time here was far too short, and filled with challenges no child should ever face, Ian met it all with a rare mix of strength, kindness, and perfectly timed sarcasm that kept everyone around him on their toes.

Ian was so much more than the disease he fought. He was an old soul with a sharp wit and a heart to match. His humor, often sarcastic, always well-timed, had a way of cutting through even the hardest moments. He could make people laugh when they least expected it and needed it most. At the same time, his kindness was genuine and effortless, making everyone around him feel seen, included, and important. He loved a good prank, even going as far as trying to pranking his neurosurgeon and countless nurses who cared for him.

Ian loved sports, science, random facts, cooking, traveling, and a good dad joke (even if he’d pretend they weren’t funny). He was adventurous, always eager to try new foods and explore new places. Little kids gravitated toward him, adults admired him, and somehow he made both feel equally at ease.

To his friends, Ian was everything you hoped one would be: loyal, funny, honest, and welcoming to all. He had a quiet confidence and a big smile that brought warmth wherever he went. He didn’t just make friends, he made people feel like they belonged.

Ian was wise beyond his years with a remarkable ability to be direct and honest, often delivering it with humor that made even the hardest truths easier to hold. Even in his final days, he continued to show that same spirit: brave, funny, and deeply himself.

Ian leaves behind a legacy of kindness, humor, and authentic love that will live on in every person lucky enough to know him. He was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

He was also passionate about helping others and being part of something bigger than himself. In that spirit, Ian’s brain and spinal cord were donated to research, with the hope that one day no other family will have to walk this path.