Honoring the Life of Johnnel Fajardo

Dear Kind Reader,

It is with the heaviest of heart that we share the loss of an extraordinary individual whose spirit and charisma touched every soul he met. Our friend, our brother, our beacon of warmth, Johnnel "Chip" Fajardo, has departed from this world unexpectedly, just a week before his birthday.

Johnnel was born in the beautiful Philippines, raised by his mother and father, while being a goofy big brother to his sister Jainah. In 2005, his parents made the decision to move to California to provide young Johnnel and Jainah with a better life. Despite coming to the states as a teenager, Johnnel became best friends with many whom he still had incredibly close connections with, while excelling academically. He later attended UCLA where he graduated in 2014 with a degree in Biochemistry, where his aim was in making a difference in the world. He was the embodiment of friendship and unity so it was no surprise that he became part of a dedicated team whose focus was in finding a cure for cancer using cell therapy.

Johnnel’s hobbies were as diverse and colorful as his personality. If he wasn't playing the piano, answering Jeopardy questions, or playing tennis or Magic the Gathering— or watching his idols, tennis greats Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer, and Magic champions Steve Rubin and Gerry Thompson—he was in the kitchen, channeling his inner Gordon Ramsey, to create another “Bon AppeChip'' masterpiece. His appreciation for all cultures came out in his food, and it created so much excitement and anticipation to see what new dish he learned when Friendsgiving came around.

But what truly set Johnnel apart was his heart. His life was a testament to the love he had for his family and friends. Always the planner, he was the one who orchestrated parties and get-togethers. He had a knack of getting people together, and ensuring there was plenty of laughter, care, and food for everyone. Always putting others before himself, that was Johnnel. There wasn’t a moment where he didn’t have his camera ready to capture all of the little and big moments. His humor and impromptu karaoke was what brought a sense of joyness into our lives, but it was his kindness that turned many of us into lifelong friends. Many friend groups would have not been made if it wasn’t for Johnnel—he is going to be missed every single day.

It is incredibly difficult to describe how remarkable and intelligent a soul Johnnel was, but my hope is that these 300 words can paint at least a quarter of Johnnel’s essence. The tears that have been shed shows how much of a void his sudden departure has made in our hearts. What we ask from all of the kind readers (whether you’re a family member, friend, acquaintance, or someone who is looking to help), please contribute whatever you can, as every little bit helps. We aim to cover his funeral expenses and additional support to his parents and little sister during this challenging time.

We thank you for reading about our beloved friend. Please share this page with anyone who you believe knew Johnnel, or anyone who may be touched by his story. Together we can celebrate the life of this extraordinary person while supporting his family. Johnnel may no longer be with us, but he will live forever in our hearts and memories.

Love,

Johnnel's Friends (The Nerds, Team Ishkanah, & Team Pringles)