Jason Garcia

As the days pass by I feel a growing sense of panic. Jason has been gone for a week now and I am loathe to leave him behind. Each new day takes me a little farther away from him and I don’t want to leave this moment, no matter how painful, because somehow I feel I am leaving him. I recently heard from one of his dear friends, Jeremy, who mentioned that remembering fond memories of Jason is helping him get through this difficult time. He reminded me of Jason’s fondness and near obsession with nachos and I began to think of Jason hunched over a plate of Robertito’s nachos late at night as he watched a UFC fight while our dog, Mathilda, anxiously waited for just one piece of carne asada to drop off the side of a chip. Through the tears that flow freely down my cheeks every time I think of Jason I began to smile.

In the last year it became routine to see Jason through the horror of a life with cancer. So much of our life was overshadowed by the tremendous burden of pills, doctor appointments and hospital stays. It became easy to forget that one day not long ago Jason was whole, complete and scarfing down nachos on a near nightly basis. I remember him calling me every night on the way home from Ju-Jitsu practice and saying, “Babe, it’s me. I’m going to Robertitos. Do you want anything?” I teasingly told him, “You’ll turn into a nacho if you aren’t careful!” We’d laugh. I used to think that nachos would always be around, along with Jason’s tell tale onion breath as every order of nachos was followed with the request, “Extra onions please”. These days, now that the fact that Jason won’t be around is slowly sinking in, the memories of Jason’s passions and his onion breath are so dear to me.

In the last week many of you have contacted me by e-mail, phone and through this site. Your loving responses and support mean the world to me now more than ever. As the days pass I invite you to post your favorite memory of Jason. With New Year’s just around the corner I know there will be free flowing champagne and many toasts as we begin a new year. In addition to your postings of favorite memories I’d love to see you toast Jason. Let me be the first to raise my glass of hope to Jason’s memory. To a man who knows now that he is in perfect peace just how much he was loved, how inspirational he was to so many and how very much he will be missed. Cheers to you, Jason.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 27th, 2006 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “”

Amber Says:
December 28th, 2006 at 2:55 am
I remember that Jason had the softest voice. When I first got to know you Denise, whenever I would come to visit, Jason would shy away in the back bedroom. He’d walk out every once and a while and say hello, smile a sweet smile with his eyes glanced downward and get what he needed and walk back. However, one night we were playing a game and he came out and played with us. He was so nice, not as shy, and he seemed to enjoy us and we enjoyed him. After that night, I got to know Jason better. We’d talk when I’d come over and he’d ask me if I needed anything to drink or whatever. He and my husband talked about music and stowed away in the study for hours and talked about guitars and music, since they had simliar tastes. He will not be forgotten by either of us.

As a side note, I also want to commend you, Denise on how much you sacrified in taking care of the man you loved. You did so much for him. Not only did you take him for treatment and take care of him at his most ill, but you gave him precious time so that those who loved him could spend time with him. You fought so hard for him.

I have to take a moment here and comment a little bit more about Denise. Denise would bend over backwards for those in need. She has done so for so many people and I know she will continue to do so as she moves throughout her own life. She is a good person, and someone who has made and will make a lasting contribution to this world. Throughout this year taking care of Jason, she has shown super-human strength and resilience, attributes that I truly can’t imagine any one person having so much of. She was Jason’s advocate. It shows here on this post where she asks people to remember this man that meant so much to her. These past months have been very difficult for her, I can’t imagine how difficult and won’t even try, and she deserves respect and compassion.

Jason will be sorely missed Denise. And he will never be forgotten.
Damien Says:
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING JASONS LAST JIU JITSU CLASS, I REMEMBER WALKING INTO CLASS AND SEEING JASON SITTING ON THE MAT STRETCHING. I THOUGHT TO MY SELF, WOW WHAT A WARRIOR, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS GUY YOU CANT HOLD HIM DOWN! I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE MY FRIEND BACK! I WOULD LIKE TO PUT A MEMORIAL UP AT NEW ERA MARTIAL ARTS. IN HONOR OF JASONS LIFE AND HIS JIU JITSU ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 559 307 9926
Fresno Rescue Mission Says:
January 4th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
To the Family and Friends of Jason Garcia:
A donation has been made to the Fresno Rescue Mission by Jim & Pat Ahrens in loving memory of Jason Garcia. Our deepest sympathy for the loss of your loved one.
“… I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even tough he dies.” John 11:25
Michelle Moss Says:
August 21st, 2007 at 11:22 pm
I too was blessed with having Jason in my life. But in a different way. Jason was one of my Web and Graphic Design Students at the Institute of Technology. He was such a wonderful student, and he was so gifted. Not only was he a great musician, but a brilliant artist. He would work so hard in and out of class. I remember a few times helping him fix things on his Speakers for the Dead web site. He even invited my husband and I to his record signing. Saying “He’s a big guy im sure with him there you’ll fit right in!”
Every once in a while there is that one student who you just connect with, and even though as a Teacher your said to touch lives. I believe that students do the same for their teachers. Jason did just that.

I remember when his favorite guitarist passed away Dime Bag Darrel (im sure my spelling is off! ) how just totally upset he was, and we sat in class talking about music and what the death of that musician meant to him. He even needed to leave the room for a few minutes to gather his thoughts. I just was amazed at the passion Jason had for his music.

Still sitting on my desk today is a bottle of Antibacterial hand lotion that I keep for my students because of Jason. I remember even pulling out a new pen for him just because he had a think about germs. In that aspect he reminded me so much of my best friend who was the same way, so I fully understand the need for those kinds of things.

And lastly, up on my wall, sits a drawing Jason did, something that was up on the wall since he was in class . A robot man, He did some wonderful work, and Both myself and my co-worker Dennis were always so proud of every thing Jason did.

I know he is missed by so many, But the memory of Jason will forever be with each and every single person he came into contact with even if it was for just a short time as it was for me.

God Bless
Michelle Moss
Jeremy Davenport Says:
April 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Ah man…I just found this out…. I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Jason back in Sept. of 06. We went to H.S. together and he was one of the people I enjoyed being around the most. We were super into music, especially Led Zeppelin. We would always dork out over them…Oh! and Slayer! Jason had the best sense of humor! I can still hear his unique laugh. Whenever we’d meet in the hallway he’d add something funny to my last name like..Davenpoop. One of the many funny things, and a running joke between us, was about a guy who wore a big purple Pepe Jeans sweatshirt and from then on he was known as “Grimace” (McDonalds). What an amazing person! I can’t wait to see him again…whole…and laughing at some mundane thing only he would think was funny.

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