Dylan Slyker

Through a stroke of luck, Dylan Fischer Slyker was born into the Slyker and Swalling families and grew up in Alaska, the only state big and wild enough to match this beautiful boy’s charisma, imagination and daredevil energy.

Growing up, Dylan thrived as only Alaska kids can. He spent shenanigan-filled childhood days surrounded by rowdy cousins, doting aunts who baked chocolate chip cookies, and uncles who taught him the love of wings and bowling. His adoring maternal grandparents lived only a few blocks away for most of his life and were a constant presence at big family dinners, drawing lessons, and holidays, most notably (to Dylan) Halloween when their house became homebase for big, boisterous groups of trick-or-treating friends and extended family. Further contributing to Dylan’s idyllic childhood were visits with his paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles and beloved cousins in the Lower 48 who filled his days with boating, eating Nana’s cookies and the particular pleasure of cruising in his grandfather’s vintage Mustang.

In addition to his immediate family, Dylan was loved and scolded and teased and treasured by a village of friends and extended family who had a front row seat to his rich and remarkable life. Double-black diamond runs at Alyeska. With a backflip! Basketball games on outside courts under the midnight sun. Long weekends—the best weekends—spent on the Kenai River where little boys fish all day, dance on picnic tables at night, and then tumble into their tents in the twilight and fall asleep just a little bit sunburned and smelling like campfire and adventure.

Dylan attended Puffin Heights Preschool where he made lifelong friends, was barely ever naughty, and was adored by students, teachers and staff. This pattern repeated itself throughout his life as he attended Denali Montessori Elementary School, Romig Middle School, and graduated from West High School/PAIDEIA. At the University of Colorado, Denver Dylan was an engaged and enthusiastic student surrounded by a core group of smart, caring, accomplished friends and loving girlfriend Kylie whom he adored.

Dylan spent his formative years living in Turnagain and on Dahl Lane, the Neverlands of Anchorage neighborhoods that are just a short walk to playgrounds, basketball courts, ice skating ponds and comic book shops and where happiness was measured in Pokémon cards, double-bounces on the backyard trampoline, snow days, and the jingle of the ice cream truck.

After his dad set up a neighborhood hoop on the street out front, Dylan and his friends could be found playing basketball for hours, dunking and shouting and egging each other on. Or often just talking and absentmindedly shooting the ball in the way that teenage boys sometimes do. All those hours dribbling. The bonds of friendship becoming stronger. Unbreakable.

As Dylan grew, so did his talents. He was an accomplished skier and a competitive basketball player for the Wolves as #21. The kid had serious hops. He was a voracious eater, loved a good meal and enjoyed “cheffing it up”. He loved animals fiercely, not just his own pets such as Chloe, Sage and Mango, but also the creatures of the wild. He had a special affinity for wildcats. He loved to draw, and his illustrations were full of emotion and detail. He was an excellent writer, and, without any previous experience, he entered and won a national writing contest in his senior year of high school. When Dylan decided he wanted to produce his own music, he was good at that too. It was the skill that eventually led him to discover a talent for video and film production that he pursued in college in Denver.

Dylan loved his time in Colorado—a place that, for him, was the perfect blend of big city living and the outdoors. A sports fan, he got to cheer at NBA games being played right next door to his freshman dorm. He loved being a Celtics and Patriots fan in Denver, differing from the locals, and spitting stats. He saw his favorite artists live in concert and met some of his closest friends who walked together along Cherry Creek at night to chill. He reflected with those closest to him at Lookout Mountain. He was teaching his friends to ski and fly fish. He loved the game room at his apartment, where he hosted poker games and pool nights for his circle of friends. In Denver, Dylan fell in love with Kylie, the girl of his dreams. His light shone so bright in that town.

Dylan had hustle from a very young age, a trait that revealed itself early when he started selling fidget spinners for profit in elementary school, before working at Fox Hollow Golf Course and Lucky Wishbone. As an adult, he thrived when he was able to work hard. He loved working at Smok, a fast-paced restaurant, and thought the world of the entire crew. He was successfully engaged in the stock market in college, and had already created his Roth IRA, which he was incredibly proud of developing at a young age.

With this kind of larger-than-life presence, Drake Slyker could be forgiven for believing his big brother was born wearing a superhero cape. Dylan, in turn, adored Drake. His favorite role was that of Drake’s big brother. He was loyal, fiercely protective of his younger brother, a huge admirer of Drake’s many talents, and was his biggest fan. They shared an uncommon, gentle closeness, remarked on by others over the years. Dylan was one of the few people who could match Drake’s legendary Lego obsession. The two shared a love of skiing and had just skied together at Winter Park in Colorado. Winter weekends would often find them on the slopes—two Slyker boys attacking the mountains. Together. Fearless.

Parents pour the best of themselves into their children and that was true for Kate and Dave. They built a busy and beautiful life for their boys. Slumber parties. Family dinners. Endless sleepovers and best friends knocking at the door to see if Dylan can come out and play. Movie nights. Season passes. So many trips to the bookstore. Countless basketball practices. Family photos. College visits. Vacations at the beach and in the desert. The Slyker house was a central hub for so many kids over the years. So many perfect memories packed into one young life.

His mom, Kate, shared not just a mother’s love but instilled a commitment to community and the importance of giving back into both her boys. Dylan grew up supporting causes like Covenant House and Special Olympics Alaska and understanding the responsibility of taking care of others. Dylan’s heart was big enough to absorb all these lessons and extend them to his wide and ever-growing circle of friends. Dylan adored his mom. They shared a love for writing, books and words. From a young age Dylan also was bitten by the book worm, and they shared time together reading and discussing and imagining so many different stories. Forged with a similar driving spirit and strong will, they recognized and understood each other. Dylan knew his mom’s love was unconditional. Absolute. It was a source of strength and the compass that helped Dylan to navigate challenges and to thrive.

Dylan’s life had a soundtrack: Future, Metallica, Gunna, Beastie Boys, Tyler the Creator, The Deftones. His love of music was cultivated by his father, Dave, who raised Dylan on a proper diet of punk, heavy metal and hip hop. You could hear their favorite songs playing in the house or on the car stereo and see their favorite band names written across the chest of the t-shirts Dylan wore—just like his dad. They both shared a razor-sharp wit, minds that are already made up, a love of Disneyland, and a healthy enthusiasm for challenging authority. Dylan also inherited his father’s love of fishing. The pair could be found wading and floating Alaska rivers chasing kings and cohos, steelhead and rainbows. Check your drag. Rod tip up. Mend the line. Be patient. You have the chance to capture something wild and elusive, beautiful and just out of reach below the surface. Sometimes you blink, and it’s gone.

Dylan lived a technicolor life. He had a curious and complex mind. A photographic memory. A daredevil heart. A maddening talent for being contrary. An endless well of creativity and talent and wry humor. Our hearts are broken but filled with so much gratitude for the time we had with this beautiful, brilliant boy.

Dylan, we will endure a lifetime of missing you for the privilege of loving you.

We love you, Dylan Monster.

Dylan is survived by his parents, Dave and Kate Slyker, his brother, Drake Slyker, his grandparents Jane Slyker, and John “Chris” and Mary Ann Swalling. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Charles Slyker, and godfather John Opinsky. Dylan is survived by his girlfriend, Kylie Cummins, who was the love of his life and brought him great joy. He is also survived by a large, loving extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who will miss his wit, humor and energy. He is also survived by the most committed and fiercely loyal friends a guy could ever hope and dream to have, that extend from Alaska to Colorado to El Salvador.

In lieu of flowers and food, a memorial fund has been established in Dylan’s name at Alaska Community Foundation. Unfortunately, Dylan struggled with his mental health and depression for much of his young life. He worked incredibly hard, with the support of his entire family, to face it head-on. Our family hopes this memorial fund will help others dealing with their own mental health, and raise awareness, for something so many battle each and every day. Additionally, Dylan never wanted his mental health to define him. In that spirit, this fund will also celebrate the things Dylan loved most, and where he found solace, in things such as friendship, music, art and basketball.

Link to Dylan Slyker Memorial Fund: https://alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=13546

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer, where family and friends will gather to share stories, laughter, and memories of Dylan. There will be fun, antics, basketball, art and music – because that is Dylan. Details will be shared as plans are finalized.

In the meantime the very best thing anyone can do for the family is write a letter or card with your favorite memories of Dylan that we can keep and read forever. It will keep him alive. Photos, videos and memories can also be emailed to us at DylanSlykerLove@gmail.com.