Dori honors Tyler Hayden, who was killed in Catalina boat crash

You may have heard that the son of the former chief executive of the San Francisco 49ers, Peter Harris, was killed in a boat collision off Catalina Island over Labor Day weekend.

What you probably didn’t hear was that one of the missing passengers was Tyler Hayden, a young man from Lake Forest Park, Wash.

Twenty years ago on Wednesday, Dori’s oldest daughter came home from kindergarten and told her dad that she met a new friend. His name was Tyler. Tyler Hayden.

The two kids remained friends through their school years – even into college.

“If my daughter was going out with a group of friends in high school, I’d ask who was going to be part of that group. If Tyler was part of that group, you knew that your daughter was going to be safe,” Dori said.

“He and his buddies were always so respectful to girls. They always had their backs. They’re the kind of kids you want your kids to hang out with.”

Dori said Tyler, a student at Shorecrest High School and two-time All-American swimmer, was a passionate lover of Seattle sports and would write essays about the Seahawks.

“Tyler was just an absolutely wonderful young man,” Dori said. “I’d like you to keep his family, Gary and Diane, in your prayers.”

Authorities have called off the search for Tyler.