FRIENDS, KIN RECALL THE LOVE OF 2 BROTHERS; DEATHS OF BOYS IN TRAGIC FIRE LEAVE VOID IN THE COMMUNITY.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem and Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writers

Two brothers - 7 and 17 - were remembered with tears and smiles Monday as news spread of their deaths from injuries suffered in a house fire on New Year's Eve day.

Sean Williams, a senior at Valencia High School, was a big guy known for his bear hugs and beautiful tenor voice.

``He was a very loving, kind, wonderful human being,'' said Deborah Wait, director of the Valencia Viking Voices choir. ``A lot of time, kids are so selfish - it's hard with the cliques, the popularity groups. But he had no problem standing up and was always looking for the right thing to do.''

The teen was close to his younger half-brother, Patrick Crawford, who died Sunday, one day after Sean.

``They loved each other,'' said their uncle, Oscar Brooks. ``They would wrestle and stuff and Patrick would always talk about his big brother.''

Brooks had dinner two days after Christmas at the family's Val Verde home, to celebrate the baptism of Patrick and his mother, Lisa Reese, at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Patrick was in the second grade at Live Oak Elementary School in Castaic.

``He was a very bright, active little guy - always inquisitive, always curious about things,'' said Principal Cary Bossi. ``Academically, he was always on top of things, very sharp. He liked to do a lot of running and liked to play on the swinging bars.''

The staffs at both schools are pondering ways to remember the boys. At Valencia High, a donation drive is under way to help their mother.

``She's lost everything - her children, her home and everything else in it,'' said Gary Mast, a teacher and adviser to Operation Us, a teen group Sean participated in that teaches racial tolerance.

Sean also was president of the Valencia Viking Voices choir, captain of the shot-put squad, a manager of the varsity basketball team and a member of the school newspaper staff and the Key Club student service group.

``People are devastated,'' said the school's head counselor, Edel Alonso. ``He was well-liked, he was a visible force on campus.''

Leaders in the many organizations that Sean belonged to plan a Sean Williams Memorial Scholarship, said head basketball coach Gary Spindt.

Sean, Alonso said, had a beautiful singing voice, and shortly before he died took part in the Viking Voices holiday concert. He was among a select group chosen from a field of 500 to take part in the Southern California Vocal Association's Regional Honor Choir, Wait said.

``I was very proud of him,'' Wait said.

The Viking basketball team members will wear patches in Sean's name on their uniforms and dedicate the remainder of the season to him, Spindt said.

``Shawn was a tremendously kind human being. He's going to be very, very, very badly missed around here,'' Spindt said. ``Most people he came in contact with, he made a positive impression.''

On Sunday, Alonso contacted all of Sean's teachers to give them the news of his death, to advise them that counselors would be available to talk to grieving students.

Patrick's classmates at Live Oak learned of his death when school resumed Monday after the holiday break. Bossi, the principal, made an announcement over the public address system that school flags would fly at half-staff, and asked the 480 kindergarten through third-grade students to observe a moment of silence in memory of the 7-year-old.

The Live Oak staff has talked about how best to remember the second-grader. Planting a tree at the school was one suggestion, Bossi said.

Grief counselors were on hand Monday at both campuses. Castaic school district psychologist Sandee Sumber, however, cautioned parents to let each child cope with the tragedy in his or her own way.

``Seven-year-olds don't grieve like adults. Some of them are not going to show signs of being upset,'' Sumber said. Often, a youngster's fear or grief could show up as a change in their behavior, she said.

Children's first thoughts, rather than sympathy for Patrick and his older brother, may focus on whether this could happen to them and how to keep themselves safe.

``They might want to go home and talk with their parents about what kind of plan they have in place if there's a fire in their house,'' Sumber said.

Students' letters speak of big heart, bear hugs

Edel Alonso, the head counselor at Valencia High School, urged friends of Sean Williams to express their feelings in notes that will be forwarded to his mother, Lisa Reese. Williams and his 7-year-old brother, Patrick Crawford, died over the weekend after suffering severe injuries in a Dec. 31 fire at the family's Val Verde home. Here are excerpts from the students' letters:

You were one of the sweetest people I knew. I will always hold your memory in my heart. Thank you for being my friend. I bet the angels are jealous because you are singing in heaven.

Sean Williams had one of the biggest hearts I ever knew. He was loving and kind and everything a great person can be. I know that everyone who knew him feels sadness and sorrow and is asking themselves, Why him?

Sean was such a great gentleman. He was so real and true. He really touched me, as well as many other people. My heart really goes out to you.

Disbelief is what I went through first hearing this news. Pain followed. Such good Sean has done for me, for everyone. I met Sean on the bus at the end of eighth grade. We would have graduated together. We've been in track and choir for three years together. He was such a good person. All I can think is that he's in a better place.

Sean was always nice and sweet. I saw him at the mall a couple of days before he died. Every time he saw me, he would always make sure he would say `hi.'

You'll always be 17.

You'll always be a senior at the top of his class.

You'll always be remembered as a great friend.

The times we shared are now golden memories.

Singing together in perfect harmony.

Those tremendous bear hugs you always gave so freely.

To think that I'll never hear your voice or feel your arms around me.

I would give up anything just to say goodbye.

You'll always be in our hearts and in our memories.

Sean, I know you are holding my mother's hand in heaven. I will always love you.

Daily News Staff Writer Erin Gebroe contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1) Sean Williams

Tenor in choir

(2--Color) Patrick Crawford

Always curious

BOX: Students' letters speak of big heart, bear hugs (See text)