Channeling Grief For Good: Severna Park Family Fundraises For Library Transformation Following Tragic Loss

As they processed the devastation of losing their first child, Edward and Jessica Nie quickly began to channel their grief and the outpouring of kindness from those around them into something that would not only memorialize their beloved son but also benefit their hometown of Severna Park.

The Nies, who go by Eddie and Jess, grew up in Severna Park and were friends from middle school onward, graduating from Severna Park High School at the top of their class in 2006. They went separate ways for college, but job opportunities brought them to Baltimore, and they began dating.

Eddie, an investment banker, and Jess, an accountant, married in 2015 and moved home to Severna Park in 2020. They welcomed their first child, Hugh, on December 8, 2023. They describe their little boy as “joy personified” because of his contagiously cheerful personality.

Hugh spent many days with his parents and his nanny, Joanna Young, at the Severna Park Library, where he completed the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program just after his first birthday. He loved reading, enjoyed library programs like “Babies in Bloom” and “Toddler Time,” and met most of his friends at the library.

Jess shared that Hugh was an “easy” baby who slept and ate well; Eddie added that Hugh grew to be an active toddler who never had any medical complications.

Though many parents of young children are familiar with SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, the Nies had never heard of SUDC – sudden unexplained death in childhood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 400 cases of SUDC annually in the U.S., making it extremely rare.

Yet on May 30, 2025, happy, healthy 18-month-old Hugh Nie passed away in his sleep from SUDC.

Family and friends were quick to offer the Nies love and support following their loss. Their neighbors in Linstead on the Severn created a MealTrain to provide food. As they were inundated with many kindnesses, Eddie and Jess determined to channel their grief and the goodness of others into something benevolent.

Together, they set out to refresh the place Hugh adored: the children’s area at the Severna Park Library.

“Initially it started because we wanted to find something to remember Hugh in the community,” Jess shared. “Hugh loved play kitchens. Some of the other libraries have play kitchens, but Severna Park does not have one, so we thought it would be really nice to get Severna Park a play kitchen.”

The Nies collaborated with the Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) Foundation to set up a donation link for friends to give, in lieu of sending food or flowers, with the dream of funding additional improvements to the children’s area of the Severna Park Library.

Both the Nies and the AACPL and library foundation staff have been blown away by the response: As of late July, more than 500 people have donated over $163,000 to help create what will become “Hugh’s Corner.” Gifts have come from friends, family, colleagues and strangers, from neighbors and from people as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom.

Planning for exactly what a renovated children’s area at Hugh’s hometown library might include is in the early stages – with one exception – as ideas about toys, furniture and more are considered.

“We talked with the Nies about so many things, but I can confirm one thing,” said AACPL Foundation Executive Director Cathleen Sparrow, who along with other library and foundation staff has been working with the family on the project. “Hugh loved his little mini kitchen. He loved it! And that is something that they would like to see practically in every children’s area. And … we will make sure there is a little play kitchen in the children’s area in his honor because he loved that so much. That’s the only decision we’ve made.”

Severna Park Library Branch Manager Samantha Zline will collaborate with the Nies and the library foundation to determine what items to select for the library.

“They are lovely, and we really appreciate that they’ve made us a part of this journey,” Zline said of Eddie and Jess. “It’s so sad, but we really appreciate that we’re part of the grieving process with them – and then they’re thinking of the library in this hard time is just amazing to me.”

Skip Auld, chief executive officer of AACPL, described the donations the foundation has received collectively as a major, transformational gift. “It’s just been incredible to see this kind of support happen. Obviously, this child was beloved, and the story of Eddie and Jessica Nie … has touched a lot of people,” Auld said.

Auld and Sparrow explained that while the county, and to some extent, the state, provides the majority of AACPL’s funding, the library foundation is an independent charitable organization that supports the library with special things like furniture, technology, puppets for story times, and more.

“The power of the library to touch this child in his short lifespan – I think all of us are just overwhelmed by the impact that the library had on Hugh’s life,” Sparrow said.

Despite visiting the library multiple times a week – whether it was for weekday events with Young, or weekend adventures with his mom and dad – Hugh still didn’t get his fill of reading at the library. It was also one of his favorite activities at home.

Jess shared that Hugh was always bringing books to his parents to read to him. If they had read him three bedtime stories, he got up and grabbed a fourth before plopping back down in their laps. Some of his favorite books were “Duck & Goose Go to the Beach,” “Goodnight Moon,” “This Is Baby,” and the “Little Blue Truck” series. “Splish, Splash, Ducky!” would always elicit a reaction from Hugh, as Jess read the story and Eddie interjected with quacking sounds.

Hugh liked toys as well, but he enjoyed organizing things even more. He loved the family labradoodle, Rosie, and would get grumpy on walks if he was denied the opportunity to greet a new dog. He was fascinated by planes overhead, and he delighted in bringing home balloons during weekly grocery store trips with his dad. These things all remind the Nies of their son, along with his favorite books.

“The tradition that we have right now, or the ritual, is every time we go visit Hugh at the cemetery we’ll say hi to him and we’ll read him a book,” Eddie shared.

The Nies expressed that partnering with the library to create Hugh’s Corner has given them a renewed sense of purpose and a positive outlet to cope with grief. Their ultimate desire is twofold: to create something that commemorates Hugh’s life, and to contribute a space that will benefit families and children in the community today and for generations to come.

Two of those future library users will be Eddie and Jess’s daughter, who is due in October, and Young’s daughter, who was born in June. “It brings us some happiness that both of our daughters will know Hugh, both from our stories but also through Hugh’s Corner at the library,” Eddie said.

For those who wish to support Hugh’s Corner, a donation link can be found at www.hughnie.com.