Davin Yap’s Celebration of Life

By Chad from Albany.

PUBLIC EVENT: Davin Yap’s Celebration of Life

Saturday, August 8, 2026, 1:30 pm – 8 pm

Slingerlands Fire Department, 1520 New Scotland Rd, Slingerlands, NY 12159

On June 30, 2026, Jessica Yap (from Pattersonville, NY) was heading home from a vacation in Myrtle Beach with a friend and their children when their vehicle was rear-ended while stopped in traffic in a construction zone on I-95. Everyone was unharmed except 9-year-old Davin Yap, who was unresponsive and was flown to VCU Medical Center Hospital in Richmond, VA.

After a grueling five days of hoping and waiting for positive results, and with communities in the Capital Region and beyond praying and hoping along with the Yap family, young Davin Yap passed away on July 5th, 2026.

Yap, a beloved 4th grader at Schalmont Elementary School, was remembered at candlelight vigils throughout various local communities and has become a hero in his passing through his gifts of organ donation, saving the lives of four others.

But this shark-loving little man wasn’t a fan of tears. He was jovial and happy, and wanted that light to radiate onto everyone he met, which it did in spades.

This Saturday, August 8th, the Yap family, including parents Jason and Jessica, want to thank the community for their support, and of course to celebrate the life of their beloved Davin. Come, even if you didn’t know Davin but are touched by his story. And because Davin didn’t like people to be sad, the Yap family is opening this event to the public to enjoy fun, family-friendly music provided by me, Emcee Chad Koenig, and DJ Jared Kemp. This free event will have food prepared by the good people at Slingerlands Fire Department, bounce houses for the kids, small giveaways, and more. Come dressed in Davin’s favorite color, cyan, or if you have anything shark-related, wear that! Come and be silly. Be goofy. Be fun. Be happy. Be like Davin.

The family asks the public to come anytime after 1:30 pm. Donations are not needed. This is a public event to say thank you and to remember the life of a boy who brought so much joy in his short time here and will continue to bring life to others thanks to his and the Yap family’s kindness.