Community mourns death of friends who died together at Zephyr Cove beach

Two friends killed Saturday at Zephyr Cove beach shared a passion for life, those who knew them say.

The cause of death of Tim Coleman and Alexander Haas, both 19, is under investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Mike Rippee was Coleman's football coach during his years at Douglas High School.

"Tim was a good football player, but he was a better person than a football player," said Rippee. "He was tall, thin and just a wonderful young man and was well-liked by everyone. He cared about others more than himself."

Colton Mellows, a fellow 2005 graduate, said he knew Haas since they were both 8, playing on the same soccer and basketball teams.

"My best memories of Alex are of when we'd go to Tahoe or Reno camping together," Mellows said. "We were always singing at the top of our lungs. Our favorite song was 'The Artist in the Ambulance' by Thrice.

"We'd always be driving his Nissan Pathfinder, the 'Patsy,' pumping our fists out the window."

Coleman's life had already been marked with loss.

"He had to go through a lot when his mother passed in his junior year," Rippee said. "He and his sister were very close, dealing with the tragedy of their mother passing."

Losing two of Carson Valley's youth is hard to take.

"One is too many to see," said Rippee. "As bad as we all feel, I can't imagine how bad their families feel. My thoughts and prayers are with them."

Mellows said Haas was going to Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno.

"I know he wanted to be a financial adviser - what my dad does," he said. "Dad always went to soccer tournaments with us. Alex would go with us when his folks couldn't go.

"He was a just a great kid - the happiest kid on the planet."

Services for Haas are 10 a.m. Saturday at Hilltop Community Church, 3616 N. Sunridge Drive in Jacks Valley.

Services for Coleman have not been announced.