Condolences and peace to Ayres family

It is never easy to say goodbye to a loved one. It always feels too soon, too early. It is that much harder when the loved one is taken tragically, as 15-year-old Dylan Ayres was last month.

Dylan, a freshman at Newport Harbor High School and a member of the family that owns the Ayres Hotel chain, died Feb. 20 in a single-vehicle accident while on his way to Mammoth Mountain. Dylan, who was sleeping in the back seat when the vehicle rolled over, was thrown from the SUV and died at the scene.

Our condolences go out to Dylan’s family and friends ? and there are many of them. Some 1,000 attended his funeral Tuesday at Newport Beach’s St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Those numbers alone are a telling tribute to Dylan’s all-too-short life.

Also a fitting tribute is his family’s ability to see the blessings of Dylan’s life at such a terrible time.

“We are blessed with having had 15 years with Dylan,” Dylan’s father, Doug Ayres, said during the service. “We are thankful for a boy who had such a great gusto for life.”

Doug Ayres’ words are heart-warming. They also are heart-rending because it was Dylan’s brother, 17-year-old Dorian, who was driving the SUV at the time of the accident. That makes the tragedy all the worse, if such a thing is possible. There are few words capable of describing it. It truly is unimaginable.

At this time, we wish Dorian and all the Ayres family as much peace and comfort as they can find. The community’s thoughts are with you.