Collin Stephen Tarbox

Collin was born on June 18, 2007 the son of Derek Tarbox and Jessica Connolly in Portland, ME. At birth Collin was diagnosed with a very rare genetic disease Blau Syndrome. He battled this disease for 10 years and spent most of his life in and out of hospitals. The majority of those have been spent at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital which he referred to as “his home away from home.”

While battling his illness Collin could only think of one thing and that was everyone else. He lived a simple life never wanting anything except happiness for everyone else. Frequently donating his gifts to others just to be able to see the beautiful smile on their face. He loved to be around babies and was always full of compassion and love for them. If you ever had the gift of having a conversation with Collin you would probably say that this boy had wisdom beyond his age, very often amazing adults with the questions that he would ask or the explanations that he would give.

During his time at Barbara Bush he wondered why they never had a license plate to help them raise funds. There are all sorts of vanity plates out there and Collin though Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital should have one. So he set a mission of getting them one by collecting over 2000 signatures asking the Maine Legislature to allow this to happen. It took him over 2 years to gather those signatures and many trips to stores, Dunkin Donuts, or any other place that had people to sign his petition. Recently he achieved the correct number of signatures through his 10 for 10 campaign. On his 10th birthday he wanted to get 10 signatures which he did and on January 9th the day before Collins life will be celebrated it will go to the Legislature to be heard and help “kids like him.”

So many stories of Collin can be shared about the effect that he left on people, especially the ladies, as he was quite the ladies’ man turning on his charm at every opportunity. Collins biggest legacy to be left however is the love that he had for his father Derek, mother Jessica and two sisters Shawna and Brooklyn. Always wanting them to be happy and worrying that they were missing out because of him. He would never complain when he was not feeling well, finishing a “date” on time even though he had a collapsed lung never shedding a tear or complaint because he wanted his “valentine” to be happy.

When he had the opportunity to spring himself from the hospital and was not collecting signatures he would be out having a meal, he loved his tacos and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Prior to what would be his last Christmas Collin asked all his friends and family to make him an ornament that he could hang on his giving tree. After Christmas he wanted to return all the ornaments to the friends that provided them so they always had a memory and piece of him.

Right up to his last day he was always thinking of others first and especially his family. He worried about his dad Derek and how hard he was going to take it, he thought about his mom and in his words told her “to buy her camper and get the hell out of here for a while.” That was Collin not worried about himself, what he had, or even that he was sick but everyone else and how they felt. Collin put a lot of smiles on people’s faces and will continue to do that with his memory.

Collin had a few passion loving sharks and shark week, the New York Giants, shopping which always turned into a chat session with everyone, and again his biggest making others happy.

He is survived by his mother Jessica Connolly, father Derek Tarbox, sisters Shawna Laksey and Brooklyn Tarbox, Julie Card his maternal grandmother, Barry Pocock his Paternal Grandfather, great grandparents Linda and Larry Barlow, aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous friends which are too many to mention. He was predeceased by Peter Card (Bop) his maternal grandfather and Staci Tarbox (Nana) his paternal grandmother.

Please come and share your condolences and stories with Collins family and friends on Wednesday January 10th from 4:00 to 6:30pm with a Celebration of Life at 6:30pm at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St, Portland 207-775-3763.

You may share your stories of Collin at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com