In Memory of James Neal

James Neal passed away early this morning at the age of 35 from metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma. His departure is a huge loss to so many of us.

If you never had the chance to know James, he truly embodied the best of all of us. He was thoughtful, kind, and consistently put others before himself. He had a quick sarcastic wit and could be a real smart-ass sometimes, but the closer you were to him, the more you understood that teasing and sarcasm were ways that he showed you he loved you.

James was many things through his life—a singer, a tech junkie, a connoisseur of the best food. Some might know him from his time at Apple or at Slack, though most people in his life probably remember him from one of the many, many choirs he’s sung with. The roles that he considered most important, however, were the roles he fulfilled for others in his life. He was a fiercely loyal friend; he was an incredible role model as an uncle and brother; he was an endless source of pride and joy for his mother. Above all, James was a devoted, loving partner to the love of his life, Nicole.

James was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and then received the devastating news that it had metastasized last summer. Through it all, Nicole was patiently by his side facing increasingly tough challenges with strength and grace, and as his rock in the darkest moments.

James has been one of my very best friends for the last 20 years. He has always been a hopeless romantic, and because he gave his heart so freely, I think those of us closest to him always worried that he would be taken advantage of. Then came Nicole—this carefree, bubbly, warm spirit whom he introduced as his new girlfriend. My skepticism melted away immediately after seeing how they interacted with each other. She kept him grounded, dished out her own sarcasm when he was being a smart-ass, and demonstrated a kindheartedness that I knew would sustain him. I am forever grateful that the universe gave James this incredible partner in Nicole, who has protected his heart and given him the love and care that he deserved.

And so, with Nicole in mind, I started this GoFundMe in the hopes that we can lend support as she mourns the loss of her soulmate, just a month after they exchanged vows at their wedding. I hope that you’ll consider donating what you can; donations will go directly to Nicole to support her with medical bills, memorial expenses, and living costs as she navigates this unimaginably difficult time.

We love you so much James, and already miss you so dearly.