Page 12 - Desert Oracle December 2020

Sean Stoddard

great need for support among our first responders as well. Being anxiously concerned for those
surrounding him in both military and law enforcement who struggle, Sean founded The Archangels, a
non-profit which assists military, veterans, and first responders. He still serves as the president, and
CEO.

Though known for many things, Sean will forever say his greatest joy is being a father and husband to his
wife and five children. In all that he has accomplished or chosen to do, his family has never felt they
came second. Sean would come home from long shifts, or nonprofit work, or military duty, or volunteer
activities/ ministering in the church to his biggest fan club of 5 kids running full-speed into his arms, with
shouts of joy flowing from them. His wife once said of Sean, “You don't wear capes, but rather boots and
a helmet instead, training and traveling the world over to make it a better place. When you aren't doing
that, you don't work at a desk, but put on different boots and a badge to go out to make the city a
better place. When you aren't doing that, you put on working gloves or running shoes and you go out
helping and serving in the surrounding communities to make them a better place. When you aren't
doing that (and even when you are) you put on spiritual gloves and minister to those in need to help
make their lives a better place. In your education and vocations, you seek to be better and succeed at
being your very best self. And while you are doing ALL that, you make each moment count in our family
to make our home a better place. We are so blessed to have a super man like you for a husband and
dad.”

If Sean’s desire to be a force for good could be measured physically, it is possible the force of impact
th
from his car accident on August 11 , 2020 would have come close; an impact that will continue to
change his life and the life of his family. While on duty that day for the Mesa PD, he stopped on the US
60 to remove a ladder from the freeway and was struck from behind at high speed from a distracted
driver in an SUV. Catastrophic read the insurance reports, and traumatic read the medical diagnoses of
his injured brain. Though pictures of his crushed police car circulated the web and reports of the
accident spread rapidly, what didn’t spread was the reality of all that Sean was doing at the time of this
life changing event, all of which came to a pause.

Through it all, Sean continues to show what is at his core, telling the therapists as he was relearning to
speak, “You don’t help me, I help you… I help people”. Upon relearning to walk, he exceeded all of his
therapist’s expectations. His determination shines forth through his challenges. His desire to help others
and make them happy is still at his core. His kindness shows through his frustrations and his desire to be
a force for good continues to grow. His dedication to those he loves has never diminished. When
separated from his family in times past, whether for military duty or this accident, Sean works hard,
longing to be home with them again.

Through the lifetimes he has lived and the challenges up ahead, Sean truly is all things exceptional.

Rebecca Stoddard