May 11, 2026, Statement on the Passing of Andrew Shimoli
It is with great sadness that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation hears of the passing of our dear friend and Smart Home Program recipient, Andrew Shimoli. His service and sacrifice for our country will never be forgotten.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has so much love for Andrew, and we will cherish all of the times we spent together. Our prayers and support are with his family and the military community. Andrew will always be a part of us, and we will keep him close to our hearts.
Andrew Shimoli Biography
United States Army Staff Sergeant Andrew Shimoli was born and raised in Kenya, where he attended boarding school and spent summers on the farm with his grandparents. He was raised by a village, but mainly by his grandmother, who gave him a solid foundation to work upon. Shimoli spent ample time outdoors, partaking in camping, hiking, and driving tractors with his grandfather. He was introduced to aviation by his uncle, and attended many airshows, and spent time watching aircrafts take off and land at the airport. At the age of 17, Shimoli moved to the United States, where he graduated from high school in Tucson, Arizona.
Armed with his passion for aviation, Shimoli joined the United States Army in 2006 with the desire to give back to the country that provided him with so many opportunities. Shimoli served with the Alpha and Delta Company 2-285 AVN REGT as a Staff Sergeant. Shimoli felt proud to serve the United States, and enjoyed traveling to different parts of the world. His goals were to complete a twenty year career with the Army and eventually become a private pilot. During his time of service, Shimoli served a combat deployment to Iraq in 2008, three peacekeeping missions and several emergency response missions nationwide.
Shimoli and his wife, Caren, met fifteen years ago on a camping trip to Sedona and have been married for thirteen years. They have welcomed their two beautiful children, Hannah and Patrick, into their lives.
After graduating from an advanced leadership course in February 2023, Shimoli began to experience weakness in his arms, making it difficult to hold a salute during a change of command ceremony. The weakness became progressively worse resulting in a diagnosis of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in April. Currently, Shimoli is pursuing alternate treatments with hopes of reversing his symptoms.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation Smart Home Program provided Shimoli and his family with a newly renovated, specially-adapted smart home in Goodyear, Arizona. In his final years, the adaptations to his home have allowed Shimoli to live more independently, and navigate his day-to-day life with ease, making it possible for him to spend more quality time with his family. Additionally, it provided them with peace of mind that they will always have a place to call home. Most importantly, Shimoli relied on God and his faith to give him the strength to keep fighting.