George "Tian" Pedersen

George “Tian” Pedersen, the son of Clare Pedersen and Christian Pedersen, and brother of Sammy Pedersen, took his life on January 5, 2020. Tian, born October 2, 2000, was a happy baby and a perfect napper. He woke up cheerful and smiling, and his greatest delight, once he could maneuver his walker, was to chase his sister around the house! Clare remembers just how close Tian was to his big sister, Sammy. They were like “peas-in-a-pod,” even sharing their friends with each other until adolescence. Tian had every human quality you could want in a son and brother. Clare remembers that he was unique among his peers even in pre-school. He would take a toy to school, but he never came home with it. When his mom would ask where the toy was, he would simply say, “My friend didn’t have one, so I gave it to him.” “He was both a tremendous athlete and a noted scholar. Just ask any of his teachers from

kindergarten through high school. At his elementary school graduation, Tian received nine highest achievement awards, for which he was so proud!” Christian fondly remembers the running gag about Tian’s discerning taste in food, his reticent approval and strict rating system, with his rare, highest praise

being an 8 out of 10, but 2 being his most common score. But “he truly loved stone crabs, and it was awe-inspiring how much yakisoba he could put away.” “Tian had unparalleled strength in his convictions, whether leaving his class on endurance running, or his staying loyal to friends or his new puppy, ‘Ice.’ No

matter the distance or cost, he embodied the pursuit of excellence, but never as the world saw things, only as he saw them.” Sammy said of her brother, “I will always remember him as an eccentric, goofy gamer who never just ‘let’ me win. Always a golden-hearted kid. Despite all the good memories, my heart is so broken that I have to say goodbye. Thank you for being such a good little brother, TT.” In spite of struggling with depression and anxiety during the last four years of his life, Tian wanted to prove that he could live a successful, independent life. After attending Miami Palmetto Senior High School, he pursued a higher

degree at Miami-Dade College for the last year. Tian is loved and mourned by his parents, Clare Pedersen and Christian Pedersen, his sister, Sammy Pedersen, his grandfather, George Pedersen, and grandparents, Charles and Beverly Worthington, as well as many extended family members and friends. To all who have gathered here, we are grateful for your love and support. Please keep Tian always in your thoughts and prayers.