“Today I will remember Jacob. Tomorrow, I will not forget you. Tomorrow, I will smile for you, because I know you are looking down and would want me to. You were the kindest person I knew. You were selfless. You were loving. You were kind. You were compassionate. You are in my heart forever.”
“I’m forming closer bonds with those in my life by embracing positivity and love. He always made people feel so welcome and appreciated, and if I can bring that same feeling to others, I feel that I will have succeeded in making the world a little bit better for Jacob’s sake.”
“Gratitude was Jacob’s way of life, and Thank You was his mantra. In Jake’s honor, I am giving small thank-you notes to anyone who does anything for someone else. The thank-you notes have a message of appreciation printed inside. I give them to the check-out clerk at the grocery store, the car wash, the hairdresser, etc. The response has been greater than I could imagine. People say, “You made my day”, or “I really needed this”. I silently reply, “Thank you, Jake”.
“For the past two years we have spent my birthday together with our friends from St Ed’s and Magnificat who always drive down to oxford to celebrate. It was tradition to go to Sushi Nara. Then we would end our night dancing in the middle of the mosh pit at Brick Street. Those birthdays I spent with him and our friends are something I will cherish forever!”
“We talked almost every single day. I really enjoyed spending time with Jacob in general whether that was in person, over FaceTime, etc. I never once had a bad time with him and I always looked forward to talking to him throughout the day. I also really loved getting lunch with Jacob between classes. He always knew how to put a smile on my face and we would just have so much fun when we were together.”
“In the Jewish tradition, I take the best qualities of Jacob with me in my life. I don’t give up anymore- whether I start cramping while on a run, or when work gets hard. I know that Jacob never gave up, so I don’t anymore. I’m a better listener to my friends, too, like Jacob taught us.”
“I am applying for PA school in hope to one day help patients like Jacob with their cancer treatment. I am using his story in my essay as a way to show how truly wonderful he was and how amazing his PAs were to him while in the hospital.”
“My favorite memory of Jacob will always be waking up to him jumping on me and he would throw all of my stuffed animals on top of me like I blended in. I’m trying to live every day like him. Never ever giving up and making it through to the next day with a smile on my face.”
“Every time Jacob would visit wisconsin he would come to school with me and we would always get out early and go to Kopps Frozen Custard for ice cream. I am taking more time to do things that I enjoy and spending time with people I love as well as doing everything I can to help those around me!”
“For the short time that I knew Jacob, he really inspired me to reach out and show love to everyone I encountered. He was so go at making connections with other people and letting them know that someone cares about them. I try to carry on Jacob’s legacy by doing the same that he used to do. I know that’s what he wanted and being able to spread the love that he once did is all I can ask for.”
Jacob Butze Memorial Foundation
425 Literary Road
Suite 100
Cleveland, OH 44113