Alexander J. Sebahie, 21, of Paramus, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Alex was a 2017 graduate of Paramus High School and currently a sophomore at Rider University.
Cherished son of Rosita (nee Arias) and Issa Sebahie. Adored brother of, Michael, Brandon and Anthony Sebahie. Treasured grandson of, Estela and the late Higinio Arias and Nabila and the late Antoine Sebahie.
Crash victim from Paramus was 'fierce competitor' with a soft side
Darren Cooper and Sarah Nolan
NorthJersey.com
Published Jan 2, 2019
Wrestlers know who’s real and who’s fake, and who’s in it to win and who’s just there to look tough.
Alex Sebahie, by all accounts, was one of the real ones.
The Paramus community, still dealing with the tragedy of last year’s bus crash, is in mourning again after a one-car accident on the Garden State Parkway took the life of Sebahie early Tuesday. Sebahie, 21, was in the car alone. The crash remains under investigation.
News of the accident has shaken the Paramus community and Sebahie’s extended family of wrestlers and coaches.
From 2016: Paramus' Alex Sebahie wrestles in the North 1, Group 3 final against Montville.
“I’m in complete shock. I am still trying to get over it,” said Kyle Cochran, now a sophomore wrestler at Maryland, and a teammate of Sebahie’s at Paramus for years. “Alex was not only my teammate, but I consider him like a brother. I don’t know where I would be today without him. He made me a better wrestler. Just a tough kid that always pushed me hard.”
Sebahie was part of a powerhouse Paramus Spartans wrestling team that won the North 1, Group 3 title in 2016, his senior year, and was in the Group 3 state final in 2015.
Those who knew Sebahie described him as a hardworking, talented wrestler, one who always went 100 percent.
“I would say fierce,” said Brian Bonino, now a sophomore wrestler at Columbia, who was his teammate in Paramus. “No one was going to outwork him in the room, and when he was in the room, he was ready to take whatever anybody wanted to give him. He was as tough as they come.”
Former Paramus wrestling coach Steve Klass said Sebahie demonstrated his commitment to his teammates and sport by example.
But he had a softer side, too, Klass said.
“The first thing I thought of when I heard was: I remember taking my son [Carter] to the wrestling room when he was 2, and Alex was the first one to play with him,” Klass said. “He could be this fierce competitor, but he could also be that gentle. He was one of the few kids who could do that.”
Sebahie was one of four brothers, all wrestlers, who attended Paramus High School. The youngest, Anthony, is currently a senior. Their parents are Rosie and Issa Sebahie.
Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera posted his condolences on Facebook on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, LaBarbiera said, “Our community grieves for the Sebahie family. I got to know the family on a personal level, and they would always be the first one to volunteer to help out with their kids' activities. The family needs us now.”
Paramus Principal Raymond Kiem issued a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“The entire Sabahie family has been an integral part of our fabric for many years. … When speaking with staff members who knew Alex, they fondly recollected his ability to forge relationships with his peers, his dedication and love for family and the importance he placed on respect. Although he will be remembered by most for his elite wrestling accomplishments, those who knew him at PHS recall a charismatic personality, full of charm as his defining trait.”
Sebahie was an accomplished wrestler at Paramus before a brief career at Rider. With the Spartans, he posted more than 100 wins and was No. 6 in the state in 2015 at 138 pounds, and No. 8 at 132 pounds in 2014. He was injured late in his senior season.
“Paramus loves its wrestling; that and volleyball are probably two of the sports that we are best known for and built on,” LaBarbiera said. “Traditionally, we have always had a great wrestling team, and Alex’s name will be at the top of the list as one of our best.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by a family friend.
Kenny "Tash" Tashian (1964)
Last month, I updated the "In Memory" page to include a young graduate of PHS who lost his life in a tragic automobile accident. Since then, I've come across an outpouring of messages from the community grieving from this loss.
Today I will be updating his In Memory page with new information received since my initial post. Perhaps it's the old wrestler in me that struck a chord and prompted me to cobble together several articles into this post, or it's that he was so young with a great future ahead of him. It is indeed tragic.
Alex with Mom Rosie and Dad Issa
Alex Celebrates his 100th win with coach and Dad
Coach of the Year Steve Klass
District Tournament Outstanding Wrestler Alex Sebahie
PARAMUS, NJ — Alex Sebahie was an "accomplished student athlete" and "great son" who tragically died in a car crash early Thursday morning. News of the accident has shaken the Paramus community and Sebahie’s extended family of wrestlers and coaches. Sebahie was killed after the Nissan Altima he was driving hit a utility pole off the northbound Garden State Parkway New Year's Day morning near mile marker 70 in Waretown, State Police confirmed.
Alex Sebahie was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash as a result of injuries he sustained, said New Jersey State Police Sgt. Lawrence Peele. Sebahie was the only occupant in the vehicle and no other vehicles were involved, Peele said.
Alex was one of four brothers, all wrestlers, who attended Paramus High School. The youngest, Anthony, is currently a senior. Their parents are Rosie and Issa Sebahie. According to his Facebook page, Sebahie was a student at Rider University.
Just 21, Alex was an elite wrestler while at Paramus High School, amassing more than 100 varsity wins. He wrestled in the 152-pound weight class and had a 32-6 record as a senior and won the North 1 Group 3 team championship, before a brief career at Rider. He was No. 6 in the state in 2015 at 138 pounds, and No. 8 at 132 pounds in 2014. He was injured late in his senior season.
"Alex was a great son and accomplished student athlete," said Michele Hulahan, who organized the GoFundMe campaign. "He will be missed by many friends and family for a long time to come."
Other people expressed their sympathies to the Sebahie family. "Issa, Rosie, Michael, Brandon, and Anthony: Words cannot express the pain we feel for you," Steven Klass said on the fundraiser's website. "May your memories with Alex comfort you during this tragic time. You're all in our prayers."
Wrestlers know who’s real and who’s fake, and who’s in it to win and who’s just there to look tough. Alex Sebahie, by all accounts, was one of the real ones.
“I’m in complete shock. I am still trying to get over it,” said Kyle Cochran, now a sophomore wrestler at Maryland, and a teammate of Sebahie’s at Paramus for years. “Alex was not only my teammate, but I consider him like a brother. I don’t know where I would be today without him. He made me a better wrestler. Just a tough kid that always pushed me hard.”
Sebahie was part of a powerhouse Paramus Spartans wrestling team that won the North 1, Group 3 title in 2016, his senior year, and was in the Group 3 state final in 2015. Those who knew Sebahie described him as a hardworking, talented wrestler, one who always went 100 percent.
“I would say fierce,” said Brian Bonino, now a sophomore wrestler at Columbia, who was his teammate in Paramus. “No one was going to outwork him in the room, and when he was in the room, he was ready to take whatever anybody wanted to give him. He was as tough as they come.”
Former Paramus wrestling Coach Steve Klass said Alex demonstrated his commitment to his teammates and sport by example.
But he had a softer side, too, Klass said. “The first thing I thought of when I heard was: I remember taking my son [Carter] to the wrestling room when he was 2, and Alex was the first one to play with him,” Klass said. “He could be this fierce competitor, but he could also be that gentle. He was one of the few kids who could do that.”
Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera posted his condolences on Facebook on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, LaBarbiera said, “Our community grieves for the Sebahie family. I got to know the family on a personal level, and they would always be the first one to volunteer to help out with their kids' activities. The family needs us now.”
Paramus Principal Raymond Kiem issued a statement Wednesday afternoon. “The entire Sabahie family has been an integral part of our fabric for many years. … When speaking with staff members who knew Alex, they fondly recollected his ability to forge relationships with his peers, his dedication and love for family and the importance he placed on respect. Although he will be remembered by most for his elite wrestling accomplishments, those who knew him at PHS recall a charismatic personality, full of charm as his defining trait.”