Honoring Jason Kingsford & Caring for His Cats

Jason Kingsford was a devoted brother, a passionate high school English teacher, and a proud member of the Pokémon community. He always went above and beyond for his students and friends, pouring his heart into everything he did. Jason’s love for Pokémon inspired him to create a website to help other players, and he found real joy in sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with others. Teaching was more than a job for Jason—it was a calling. He would often talk about his lesson plans and the pride he felt when his students learned something new. His kindness and dedication touched so many lives, both in the classroom and in the communities he loved.

We are raising funds to cover the costs of Jason’s cremation and funeral, which are our most urgent expenses right now. In addition, we want to make sure his beloved cats, Iroh and Toph—named after characters from another beloved series, Avatar: The Last Airbender—are cared for. Iroh needs specialty food and special feeders, and both cats would benefit from another litter robot to keep them comfortable. If possible, we also hope to cover moving expenses so my husband and I can find a home that better accommodates the cats and honors Jason’s memory by keeping them together and safe.

Jason believed in helping others above all else. Whether he was teaching in the classroom or guiding fellow Pokémon fans, he always put people first. As we work to honor his memory, we are reminded of a quote from his favorite show, Babylon 5: "The soul ends with death, unless we act to preserve it." – Londo Mollari. By coming together to support this fundraiser, we hope to preserve Jason’s soul and legacy, ensuring his cats continue to receive the love and care he gave them every day. Any support will help us give Jason the farewell he deserves and keep his memory alive in the hearts of those he touched.

Update: On behalf of our entire family, I want to thank everyone who donated to help cover my brother JustinBasil (Jason Kingsford)’s funeral expenses and to support his beloved cats. Your kindness and generosity have meant the world to us during this incredibly difficult time.

The Pokémon community in particular has truly come through. We’ve been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support. Reading your stories about how Jason helped, encouraged, or inspired you has brought both tears and smiles to our faces. It’s clear he made a real and lasting impact, and we’re so proud of the way he showed up for others. It’s wonderful to see the community he lived so much, love him back.

Several people have reached out asking us to keep the GoFundMe open a bit longer- some are waiting until payday, and others are organizing fundraisers. Because of that, we’ve decided to keep it open through August 8th.

Any funds raised beyond the funeral costs will go directly toward caring for Jason’s cats, who meant so much to him. This includes covering their ongoing needs and helping us move by covering their pet fees into a larger home where they’ll have the space and comfort they deserve.

Thank you again for standing with us- and with Jason- in such a heartfelt and meaningful way.