Some people are unforgettable. Their honesty, and their authenticity, make them stand out from the pack and lead us to remember them long after they’re gone.

John Zirbs was such a person. Many in Elkins knew him as “Super Fan.” Others referred to him as “Mr. Forest Festival.” Still others knew him as a devoted carrier of The Inter-Mountain who served his customers for four decades.

Zirbs, a special needs person, was a 1975 graduate of Elkins High School who became the biggest supporter of EHS sports in the school’s history by adopting the alter-ego “Super Fan.” For decades, Zirbs would appear at all EHS games in full costume, including a cape, to cheer on the Fighting Tigers.

After John passed away at age 63 in 2021, Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco wrote the following in an official city proclamation:

“Community spirit is infectious and it adds an immeasurable amount of value to the quality of life for those who embrace it. John Zirbs was, undeniably, the greatest example of this spirit in Elkins…

“While the passing of John has created a void, I challenge each and every one of you to fill that space with the same excitement and pride that John had for his community.”

The proclamation decreed that May 30 would be John Zirbs Day “this year and every year hereafter.”

May 30 was John’s birthday.

As you go through your daily activities today, please take a moment to consider how living with “excitement and pride” can make a positive difference in your life.

In a letter to the editor published after John’s death, Elkins native Mike McQuain wrote, “As I thought about Super Fan/John, I wondered what life would be like if more of us could find that one thing that we are truly passionate about and we focused a little more on it and a little less on the hectic, crazy world around us. I think Super Fan maybe understood life better than most.”

Let’s all honor that spirit today, as part of John Zirbs Day.