On behalf of my father, mother and sister, I would like to thank you all for being here for this celebration of Jason's life. Many of you have traveled a ways to be here. To Marc, KT, and Storm, and the Cochrens; Jason has been as much a part of your family as he has been ours. I am glad to have you all here. I encourage everyone to please take the opportunity and introduce yourself to those around you. There are no strangers here, only family and friends we have not met yet.
Those individuals who have explored mountains and scaled cliffs have said they are not doing it for the summit, or the final destination. They are in it for the journey, and the things they learn along the way. Where they are going receives less emphasis than how they get there and what will be required of them. Jason's journey has provided him with experiences and learnings that have allowed us to cross his path. His journey has also prepared him for where he is now.
I would have to contribute the origination of my bother's interest in the out-of-doors to my father. Dad had been an active member of the Boy Scouts. When he married and began a family, my mother found herself camping.... a Nova Scotia honeymoon no less, as was typical for the early 70's, and thus began a family founded on togetherness, love, an appreciation of the natural world, and a touch of adventure. I remember family camping trips....many times in Connecticut and to different state parks in Ohio. When Jason was old enough he became a Boy Scout, and dad re-enlisted.
By the time Jason was in high school, his need for adventure had found him involved in sailing, swimming, skateboarding, basketball, track, and football. He enjoyed them all immensely, but yet, there was just something not quite there. I really don't know when or how my brother began to rock climb...I just remember it as something he always did. Near the end of high school his love of climbing had completely entangled itself into his being. Decisions about college...where to go....what to do.....were miniscule and seemingly unimportant to him. He wanted Colorado, and the chance to go out west to the mountains. Confused and exasperated parents, a frustrated youth; my parents and Jason finally came to an agreement about college and Colorado. The mountains won, and college would follow.
On a cold and snowy day shortly after New Years, Jason returned from Colorado. The young man who stepped out of the car was hardly the youth my family had remembered. Jason had matured and grown up. There was a steady calm about him, an awareness of self, like he had come into his own. He had discovered something in the mountains that he was certain was out there, but had really been within him the entire time.
Jason's journey developed him into a caring, thoughtful, warm, conscientious, loyal, passionate and true-of-heart person. He loved life and he lived to love. He loved his friends and the people he met along the way. Jason was a traveler....too many miles on his truck, but never too many people to visit or places to see.
In the last few months, Jason's journey brought him to Colorado, home in Cincinnati, Georgia, Connecticut, Asheville, Charleston, and Canada. He had visited with old friends he hadn't seen in a while, relatives, his family, and friends near and dear to his heart.
When Jason was climbing, he was fully engaged in body, mind, and soul. In order to climb, a person will be on belay. The term belay refers to the rope that connects the climber to another person on the ground who is their belayer. Belay is a French word and it means "to hold fast". To be on belay signifies an amount of communication and trust between climber and belayer. Climbers know the risk they take when they climb. To climb with a friend, to have them keep you safe and to know that you both have each other, requires the strongest sense of love and trust humanly possible. It is this partnership on the rock that Jason loved, and what he lived for.
Jason, we have been blessed because we have known you. I am honored to be your sister. We love you Jason. And we will miss you. You are on belay. Climb on Jason, climb on.
A following is a poem written and offered at the funeral Mass by Jason's friend and neighbor.
My Friend
By Jay Austin Seals
I could feel the strength of your blood, when it was your hand that I shook.
And I could see the compassion of your soul, when I took a deeper look.
You said, "Did you know that the stones we threw, could melt away like the snow?"
"If it comes deep down that you are afraid, well I'm telling you you're not alone."
I so admired your style, when the day after high school graduation you left your home.
Bound for the glorious Rocky Mountains, on a bus, all on your own.
I followed you for the first time right up that rock, to gaze out on a vast Colorado plain.
And I knew then, what I know now, that I would never be the same.
The adventures, oh the adventures you had, they were so grand,
You were living and breathing a philosophy,
that in the meantime I have come to understand.
That for this moment and every moment I do believe,
That I shall always follow my dreams.
To achieve the impossibilities, and to say my friends, it's much easier than it seems.
It was about a year ago, to this very day,
Together we charged up to the top of Angora Peak on a beautiful Tahoe day.
It was there, you and I, we became like the wind.
And that is how I shall always remember you my friend.
For I know in my heart that this is not the end,
And I await with many smiles to the times we walk together
Again......my friend,
Jason William Hunt 1977-2001
Steve & Kerry Sutorius, Wilderness Treatment Center, Montana 1998
Steve is in the blue parka, middle back row, Kerry is in the red parka, middle back row.
Jason is back row, second from right,
We thank Steve for the kind words and for allowing us to share them on the memorial.
John,
I worked with your son Jason in Montana at the Wilderness Treatment Center in the winter of 1998. He and I worked a trip together in Yellowstone N.P. along with my wife Kerry. I have fond memories of Jason and our brief time together, but I was shocked and saddened when I heard about his death from one of his friends who was working at the Outdoor Retailer show in SLC. I was glad to have known your son and to have been given the opportunity to work with him. He had such great passion for the outdoors and it was obvious that his work with youth would impact and influence others. For example, the young man in the back row, 2nd from the left, has been clean and sober for six years and is now a drug and alcohol counselor in New York. I still receive updates from Todd now and again and we continue to be amazed at the grace God has provided us both. I continue to work in the field of adolescent treatment in Washington state at a program named Gray Wolf Ranch. I have visited your memorial web site a few times and am so glad such good works can be initiated in Jason's name. Please feel free to post this picture on your site or call me anytime.
WTC_98
Regards,
Steve Sutorius, Equipment Manager
Gray Wolf Ranch
P.O. Box 102
Port Townsend, Wa 98368
800-571-5505 ext. 24
Steve@graywolfranch.com
www.graywolfranch.com
Note: Steve and Kerry have left Gray Wolf Ranch and while they consuider returning to working with teens in need in the future they currently operate Wildernest Outdoor Store, Bainbridge Island, WA
TO:Tom ClancyNov. 27, 2001
RE:The Bear and The Dragon
Reading a Clancy novel, any other time and any other place, generates the satisfaction of good over evil, the world set right again, the world is OK because AMERICA IS. But The Bear and The Dragon, produced, totally unintended on your part and unbelievably coincidental, extreme heart wrenching emotions. Reading the book was like walking into two blind traps each with 4 X 4 wooden pegs spiked to cut through my heart. Let me explain.
Our son was injured in a rock-climbing fall, in Squamish, B.C., on Oct. 4th, 2001. The family flew from Cincinnati on the 5th to be with him. A family member was with him virtually every allowable minute in the intensive care unit at the Vancouver General Hospital until his death on Oct 13th.
I started the book on the flights out; never touched it in the hospital but read some more on the flights back. Then it stayed untouched until a November flight to Texas. That is when blind trap #1 hit.
While I was in the Houston airport waiting on a flight I called my wife. She explained that a friend of our son delivered a baby son but he was sick. The baby jaundiced and running a fever, was being kept in intensive care. She then explained that they chose our last name as the baby’s middle name: Spencer Hunt Michaels. I dropped the phone and cried/fought back tears for this kind act on their part to honor our son’s name. After several attempts I was able to put the phone to my head and finish the call. I took a walk, splashed water on my face and came back to continue reading your book.
I found myself in the Chinese hospital and the fight to save the “unauthorized” Chinese child’s life. Police shooting Baptist minister & Catholic Cardinal; the doctor loading the syringe to kill the child; parents stretched in emotions to save their child. My emotions ran wild. I could not read as the tears welled up and blurred the page. My mind ran through thoughts first of my son in intensive care, second of little Spence, himself in intensive care, fighting to live and third of these parents. I was a grown man fighting back tears in the middle of an airport. I am not sure how I got through it but I did and flew on to Cincinnati.
Blind trap #2 hit Thanksgiving Day, our first holiday without our son. My daughters and I had walked in the morning’s 92nd Cincinnati Turkey Trot and were waiting for friends to arrive. As I had some time I picked up the book again. Now Cathy is talking to Pat O’Day in the playroom. Pat proceeds to tell her about a little boy with whom his daughter’s “got a thing going." And there on page 622 his next line starts with our son’s name - JASON HUNT. I showed it to my wife and we both welled up and fought back the tears.
Twice in the same book my mind is blown away. How could this be happening? This book was suppose to be a diversion, a way of relaxing, of enjoyment?
In reality I did enjoy the book and will continue to read your works. But the thought did occur that Jack Ryan will age. A new hero will need to be developed – Jason William Hunt works for me; and you have already planted the seed. Here is some help with the character details. I am enclosing a poem written for Jason by a childhood friend, Jay Austin Seals, as well as the eulogy written by his older sister, Danielle Marie Hunt. Both were delivered at his Mass with great feeling, poise, and most of all, Love.
Tom Clancy
