The world lost a beautiful source of light and joy when Joshua, a beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, brother-in-law, friend and boyfriend died on August 17, 2025 at the too-young age of 21. Though our loss is unfathomable, his suffering has ended, and his memory will be forever a blessing.

His life was brief but he was beloved by anyone who met him, incomparably so by those who truly knew him. Through the nearly five years since his diagnosis with a rare and aggressive sarcoma, Josh crammed in as much love and living as his body would allow. Throughout it all, the staff at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Kids Cancer Center gave him sensitive and compassionate care the like of which is usually received from close family. It shows both how Josh could effortlessly endear himself to anyone, but even more so the selflessness and kindness of the staff who helped him and his family through the most difficult time of our lives.

In honor of Josh, we are collecting money to donate to the MSK Kids Cancer Center to support their pediatric cancer research. Josh’s disease, DSRCT, was extremely rare, occurring most often in young males between the ages of 10 and 30. Some studies say that only about 200 cases of DSRCT have been recorded since the cancer was first described in 1989. MSK was able to give Josh a few more years with his family and friends, to have some normal experiences, and even find love.

Josh was someone who regularly displayed that he cared more for others than for himself; if his loss can inspire others to support specialized care for other young people who suffer as he did, it would be a fitting tribute. We set the final day to donate as what would have been Josh's 22nd birthday.