Cousineau Family to Sponsor Aquatic Center in Memory of Son

San Clemente’s Cousineau family, which lost a 9-year-old son to a metabolic genetic disease and then started a foundation to promote blood and tissue donation, aims to sponsor the city’s new aquatic center.

The lobby for the building, at the future La Pata Vista Hermosa sports park, will be called the Evan Cousineau Reception Area and will feature educational literature and video content about he Cousineaus’ nonprofit organization Be a Hero, Become a Donor.

“Our foundation was started because Evan only had hope of being treated because of donors, blood and cord blood," said Gina Cousineau, Evan's mother, in an email. "His 20-year-old sister went on to donate a kidney six months after Evan's passing to a 2-year-old we met during Evan's fight. We raise awareness to blood, marrow, cord blood and organ/tissue donation. He was a swimmer and water polo player, so where better to honor Evan, his fight and his foundation than at the pool he should have been swimming in?”

The Cousineaus will donate a total of $20,000—$10,000 up front and $2,500 per year for the next four years.

The arrangement is slated for approval by the City Council on Tuesday night. The council meets at 6 p.m. at 100 Ave. Presidio.

Correction: Because of a reporting error, the nature of Evan's illness was misstated in an earlier version of this article.