A West Deer supervisor who loved playing music and scaring people at the haunted house he created died unexpectedly over the weekend.

In addition to being a township supervisor, Shawn Maudhuit, 50, was a singer-songwriter-musician and the creator of the West Deer Nightmare haunted house at Bairdford Park.

But his mother said Shawn Maudhuit considered his son, Colin Maudhuit, his greatest accomplishment.

“He was very proud of him,” said Shawn Maudhuit’s mother, Mary Ann Maudhuit.

Born and raised in West Deer, Shawn Maudhuit was passionate about working to improve the township and creating recreational opportunities for its residents.

He was integral in bringing back one of West Deer’s biggest events, Community Days, after years of not having it.

He also helped organize ’80s in the Park, another popular township event. He would perform at the event with his ’80s cover band, Ferris Bueller’s Revenge!

“He always loved to entertain, bring joy to people. He was really about doing that. Whatever he did,” said his good friend, David Oleniacz.

The band expressed sorrow for the loss of their founder, leader and frontman on their Facebook page.

“We are feeling a collective sense of loss and nostalgia,” the band wrote. “The feeling that an era has passed and the spotlight that shined so brightly toward the center of our stage has gone dark. Our brightest memories of Shawn will be the songs that he sang and the music we shared. We are honored to have known him, perform with him and be a part of his life.”

Before becoming a supervisor in 2018, Maudhuit served as chairman of the township’s Parks and Recreation Board, which organizes Community Days and ’80s in the Park.

In his bid for supervisor in 2017, Maudhuit told the Tribune-Review that he wanted to help put the township “on the map” for its recreational opportunities for people of all ages.

“We should definitely look into a community pool, a community center, renovated basketball and tennis courts at Bairdford Park,” he said.

Township supervisors said Maudhuit took the trust the community had placed in him seriously, and was consistently proud to represent West Deer.

“We are all honored to have had the opportunity to work with and grow a great friendship with Shawn,” the supervisors said in a statement. “We recognize that he accomplished his main goal as supervisor, which was to leave his community in a better place.”

Oleniacz said one thing Maudhuit loved above all else was Halloween. He would set up the West Deer Nightmare months in advance. His garage was filled with Halloween stuff.

“He’d be out there tinkering, welding, playing with electronics,” Oleniacz said.

Maudhuit came up with the idea for the haunted house and its main character, Noah Hobbs, in the early 2000s, when he was on the Parks and Recreation Board. Hobbs remains somewhat of a mystery, but is believed to be a serial killer.

“I remember the first year we did it at Bairdford Park. We’re out there with 4x2’s of plywood trying to make the maze. He was just so into that,” Oleniacz said of the haunted house.

Mary Ann Maudhuit said her son’s love of haunted houses started when he was young. She said he would turn his room into a haunted house and then be too scared to sleep in there.

“He’s been years and years into haunted houses,” she said. “He’s had them all over. He did them for the Shriners. He did Indiana Township. But his favorite was at Bairdford Park.”

A talented musician, he helped out with musicals at Deer Lakes School District. He made the musicals sound like Broadway shows, she said.

His band would practice in her basement.

“I always say a star was born in my downstairs,” Mary Ann Maudhuit said. “He was just a very talented, creative and funny guy.”

Viewing hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home in West Deer. A funeral will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, also in West Deer. Covid-19 restrictions will be followed during the services.

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