Jamie's Story

Jamie was deeply curious. He had a great memory for detail and was always asking questions, trying to understand the world — whether in nature, in conversation, or in the classroom.

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That curiosity and eagerness to explore showed up early. At age 7, he completed the 7-mile Macedonia Brook State Park ridge loop in Kent, CT with his mom, dad, and his Uncle Steve, without complaint — an early glimpse of both his toughness and his engagement with the outdoors. He wasn’t just along for the hike; he was fully present in it and proud of his accomplishment.

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He paid attention to the small things, too. Whether it was counting efts on a trail in New Hampshire or noticing sunsets on Block Island, Jamie had a way of engaging with nature that was both observant and thoughtful. 

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In school, that same curiosity carried through. He enjoyed learning and asking questions, and he connected naturally with teachers and classmates. One teacher remembered a long conversation they had about hiking — the kind of exchange that reflected Jamie’s ability to engage deeply and thoughtfully with people about the things he loved. 

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Outside the classroom, his curiosity and love of life was always present. He loved cooking and experimenting — making ceviche for friends and family, or doing mixed grills over the fire in Kent  — and was always eager to try something new or figure something out for himself. 

 

That curiosity was paired with an intense desire to play. From an early age, Jamie was constantly in motion — turning the everyday into games and experiences.

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He would play baseball in the backyard with mom or dad, insisting that every play be narrated as if it were a live broadcast. In his friend Eli’s basement, he invented new sports — creative, fast-moving, and occasionally chaotic, sometimes resulting in holes in the sheetrock walls. And on playgrounds, he raced everywhere, bringing energy and enthusiasm to everything he did which sometimes resulted in a broken wrist or tooth.

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Much of that play was shared with his sister, Bisi. Together, they created entire worlds in their bedrooms. They would play “Animal Superpowers” with their stuffed animals, inventing characters and storylines, or acted out games like “Robot and Bear,” where Jamie played the evil robot trying to steal the “Baby Bear,” Bisi, from “Daddy Bear.” These games were full of energy, creativity, and laughter.

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Like many siblings close in age, they had their moments of fighting. But over time, that relationship deepened into something more. By their teenage years, they had become close — gossiping, sharing stories, and conspiring to tease their parents, always with humor and love.

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Jamie’s sense of humor started early and stayed with him throughout his life.

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As a child, he loved running bits that became family mainstays. On Friday night dinners out at Boca Grande, he would pretend to sit on a cactus, setting up the familiar Dr. Seuss line: “No, Pat, no, don’t sit on that” — delivered on cue, again and again, never losing its humor and always with a huge grin on his face.

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At home, he teased the people closest to him in ways that were always affectionate. He would joke with his grandmother about her outfits, calling it “Nona Style,” and he delighted in making up nicknames — including for the family dog, Cinnamon, who became “Squain” or “Beans.” He could even get her to stand on her hind legs, proudly announcing “Circus Bear.”

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That humor evolved as he got older, but it never lost its creativity or playfulness. In high school, on April Fools, he once conspired with a teacher to stage getting kicked out of class for refusing to get off his phone — only to leave dramatically and return moments later to a dumbstruck class with a huge grin on his face.

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In another class, a simple “how-to” assignment in Spanish became something entirely his own. He demonstrated how to brush his teeth while narrating each step in Spanish, taking it to the extreme as toothpaste streamed down his cheeks — fully committed, fully in the moment, and making everyone around him laugh.

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From an early age, Jamie was also drawn to the outdoors. That connection only grew stronger over time. By age 14, he had completed all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks, becoming a 46er at a remarkably young age. But the roots of that accomplishment trace back to those early days in the woods of Kent — building strength, confidence, and a deep appreciation for nature.

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He didn’t just love being outdoors — he sought out ways to go deeper. Through trips with National Outdoor Leadership School and Outward Bound, he challenged himself in remote environments, learning through experience and pushing his limits in ways that reflected both his curiosity and resilience. 

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He also spent hours fishing on Pleasant Lake in New Hampshire or at the cut on Block Island. He brought a steady patience to it — equally happy to walk away empty-handed or bringing home a huge striped bass, from fishing trips with Bisi and his Aunt Sarah. When he was 5 or 6, we spent a few hours without any luck at the cut. A crusty, old guy caught a fish nearby and yelled out, “Not another damn dogfish!”. When we got back home, Jamie’s grandmother asked how things went and Jamie reported, “We didn’t catch anything, but this guy caught a ‘Damn Dogfish!”

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​Jamie was also an athlete who loved to compete. He played lacrosse and ran cross country, bringing determination, toughness, and a steady presence to both. As a runner, he competed at a high level, finishing in the top twenty at the New England cross country championships.

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More than the results, though, he was remembered for how he competed — with intensity, but also with joy. He brought energy to practices, supported his teammates, and made the experience better for everyone around him.

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As Coach Glennon at Brookline High shared:

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“Jamie really blossomed as a runner. His training and competitiveness pushed him forward, and by his sophomore year he was part of a Varsity team that finished 9th in the state. What stood out even more was how he continued to grow — not just as a runner, but as a person and a leader.

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Hearing the stories at his vigil reminded me of something we often said: ‘Potential is meaningless.’ What matters is how you live each day. Jamie lived life fully — he made the most of every moment and brought joy to the people around him.

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We will remember a great young man lost too soon and live life to the fullest just as he did.”

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He carried that same spirit into everything he did. Whether hiking, running, learning, or spending time with friends, Jamie had a way of making experiences feel meaningful. He valued friendship deeply and showed up for people in ways that mattered.

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He was also a devoted fan of the Boston Celtics, following them closely and sharing that passion with everyone around him. His enthusiasm went well beyond watching the games — at one point, he showed up to a game covered in green body paint with the name of his favorite player, Tatum, written across his chest. It was a perfect reflection of his spirit — all in, joyful, and unafraid to have fun.

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Jamie planned to study environmental science in college, hoping to better understand and protect the natural world he loved.

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That love of nature continues to ripple outward. Friends and family now build cairns for Jamie in places all over the world — from the Adirondacks to Mexico, Corsica, California, Oregon, Maine, Australia, and beyond. Each one is a small act of remembrance, a reflection of how deeply he connected people to the outdoors and how present he still feels in those places. 

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Jamie’s presence is often felt in small, unexpected ways. A bracelet charm that was lost somehow finding its way back. A butterfly guiding someone down a trail. A “J” appearing where it wasn’t expected. These moments have become part of how people continue to feel connected to him.

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This site exists to honor Jamie’s life and to carry forward the things he cared about — friendship, curiosity, adventure, competition, humor, and the preservation of the natural world.

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Carrying Jamie Forward

Across mountains, forests, coastlines, and trails around the world, people continue to carry Jamie with them — building cairns, sharing stories, and seeking out the beauty he loved. We miss you Jamie and try hard to build upon everything you cared about.