Jack's Fund

My cousin Jeff passed away unexpectedly last week at the age of 39. I know all to well the pain and heartache that his Father and brothers must be going through right now as they try and make sense of this loss. A father should never have to lose a child, and vice versa when the child is so young as Jeff’s son Jack is. This 9 year old boy will have to grow up without a father to come to for advice, to teach him important life lessons, to mold him into the man he will eventually become, and most importantly to pick him up, brush him off, and tell him everything is going to be okay as he make’s his way through life’s many ups and downs. This tragedy breaks my heart, but it is good to know that Jack is surrounded by family to love and support him through this time. His Mother Krystal, Grandparents Sal and Kathy, Paulette and Jim, Uncles Matt, Ian, Adam, and David will be there to help soften the blow and fill the gap left behind by this terrible loss. I hadn’t been close with my cousin in many years, but powerful memories came flooding to the forefront. I remember happier days when we were all younger, getting together at La Femina family gatherings for good times, games, and dysfunctional shenanigans. I remember young gangly Jeffrey with longish hair, devilish grin, undoubtedly up to no good as he battled with his older brothers in a bid for dominance at the backyard barbeque. Who knew he would grow up to be the guy who could beat us all up at the same time. I also remember another Jeffrey, an older Jeffrey, one who reached out to me while my son was sick and wanted to know what he could do to help. He seemed angry at my son’s disease, as I was. He wanted to get tested to see if he was a match to become a bone marrow doner, and although we already had a match in my daughter, I will never forget that act of kindness. That is what family is, and should be, all about. So I ask that anyone connected to Jeff in any way, especially family and friends, think about this and help to set up a little something for Jack’s future.

 

Thank you,

Joel