I will fondly remember Jake for many reasons, but most notably for the fine young man he was. From the day I started working at RIM in July of 1999 in Software Jake would always help me if he saw me carrying anything heavy, by either taking the package from me and carrying it to where I needed it to be, or he would hold the door open for me. Jake would always smile as he walked by and say “hello Tammy – how’s it going”.
It was his love and respect for life, family, friends and colleagues (and fashion) that made him special and such a fine young man. He was always smiling and always willing to help anyone! On top of all of this he had the best shoes I’ve ever seen on any man.
Several years ago he proudly came to work with a new pair of shoes, I think they were red and white, and looked like bowling shoes. I teased him by saying “hey Jake, I think you forgot to take your bowling shoes off before coming to work” and with his big smile and head up high he proudly told me the name/style of the shoes and where he got them. From that point on anytime I saw him I would always look at his shoes (after saying hello) and when I saw he was wearing a new pair I would say “nice shoes” and he would proudly reply “thanks” and give me a big smile.
After Jake moved to the Legal department I hardly ever saw him as our paths no longer crossed however, a few weeks back I bumped into Jake in the parking lot. After saying hello and asking him if he was coming back to Software (wishful thinking on my part) and commenting on his shoes, he proudly took off his glasses, smiled at me, and said “hello Tammy” while saying thanks about the shoes. He also and very proudly went on to say “nope I’m not coming back to Software, just cutting through on my way to a meeting – but thanks for asking – I do miss it there, but for now I love what I’m doing.” With that he wished me a nice evening, put his glasses back on and proudly walked on to his meeting. That was my last conversation with Jake. As he walked away I made note in my mind that he was happy (as always) and that he seemed very content with where he was in his life and how great that was to see!
For those of us that had the pleasure to get to know Jake we will always hold him dear in our hearts. Jake was a fine young man and one that Alex, his two daughters and family can be proud of forever!
Tammy
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The Jake I never knew
It's been both enlightening and distressing reading all of these stories about the Jake that I never knew. I grew up with Jake. He is the first memory I have of a friend. During kindergarten I would spend the free afternoons at Jake's house waiting for my parents to get off of work. Mrs. Sauer became somewhat of a surrogate mother. I've got so many great memories of the Sauer household - Mr. Sauer nicknaming me "Rosco P. Coltrane" after the Dukes of Hazzard character, a mutual friend of ours that had whopping cough coughing in Kate's orange juice in hopes that I could go to the Michael Jackson concert with Jake instead of Kate(sorry about that one Kate).
Jake and I would remain inseparable up until the high school years. My family moved to Ayr and I was forced to attend Southwood in Cambridge. We kind of drifted apart after that. The last time we spoke was right after his mom died. I am afraid to say that I never knew the cyclist, the young father or the co-worker who lit up the office. As I've read through these memories the past few days it has become more obvious to me that even though I didn't get the chance to know Jake in his latter years, the Jake I knew was still there. My lasting memory of Jake takes place on the steps of the Sauer's back porch in Victoria Park. Teddy, Jake's younger brother, couldn't have been more than 3 years old. He was walking down the steps of their back porch and fell off of the side of the steps into some thorn bushes. I remember Teddy' face being covered with blood. I'm not sure who cried more, Jake or Teddy. In that one little instant there was a glimpse into the man that Jake would become. A person whose heart for others far out distanced any kind of concern he had for anything else.
While I'm saddened to think that I never had the opportunity to get to spend time with Jake in his adult years, or that our kids never had the chance to play together, I am consoled by the fact that I did know the Jake that everyone has so kindly written about.......it was just so long ago.
Jake and I would remain inseparable up until the high school years. My family moved to Ayr and I was forced to attend Southwood in Cambridge. We kind of drifted apart after that. The last time we spoke was right after his mom died. I am afraid to say that I never knew the cyclist, the young father or the co-worker who lit up the office. As I've read through these memories the past few days it has become more obvious to me that even though I didn't get the chance to know Jake in his latter years, the Jake I knew was still there. My lasting memory of Jake takes place on the steps of the Sauer's back porch in Victoria Park. Teddy, Jake's younger brother, couldn't have been more than 3 years old. He was walking down the steps of their back porch and fell off of the side of the steps into some thorn bushes. I remember Teddy' face being covered with blood. I'm not sure who cried more, Jake or Teddy. In that one little instant there was a glimpse into the man that Jake would become. A person whose heart for others far out distanced any kind of concern he had for anything else.
While I'm saddened to think that I never had the opportunity to get to spend time with Jake in his adult years, or that our kids never had the chance to play together, I am consoled by the fact that I did know the Jake that everyone has so kindly written about.......it was just so long ago.
Monday, May 21, 2007
From Glen Johannesson
Some of you may recognize the graph below. Jake posted many of them on his blog 45inches.blogspot.com. He meticulously recorded his performances climbing up Mt Ventoux (pulse, speed, meters climbed etc) and regularly posted the results for fellow cycling geeks to read and marvel over with jealousy tinged fascination. This graph is different however. This graph is the record of our last ride with Jake. This time we lead Jake instead of us chasing after him. Jake was an inexplicably strong rider and it was a privilege and an honor to lead him out one last time.
Glen
Glen
From Marlene Waters
Every time I return to Canada for work, I would stay with Alex and Jake and his growing collection of bikes, but in March of this year, I received a phone call from Alex telling me she and Jake were planning to head to my area of the world – Arizona. So while Jake did his form of relaxation (crazy, all day biking in Tucson), Alex and I enjoyed ours (a day at the spa).
From their last night here, when we were all together, I remember a couple of things. One was Jake not feeling it had been his best bike trip as he couldn’t get his heart rate up. For all of you bikers, I’m sure you understand, but I remember joking with Alex saying “wasn’t it a good thing if you can bike all day and your heart wasn’t racing?” Jake tried to explain the difference, but I will never understand :)
The 2nd thing I remember was him playing with my 2 month old son. The first thing Jake did when he arrived for dinner was ask to see Benjamin. Instead of playing with him from a distance, he immediately held him and gushed about how cute that age was and how he was so excited to go through that stage again with their second child.
Jake loved how you could hold them and they would cuddle with you. I have known Jake since my first year of university, he was the guy that didn’t sit still when you talked to him, or would quickly jump on a tangent and have you laughing at how excited he got, but the Jake I saw holding my son was a Dad that understood how precious babies are, and who was already in love with his unborn child. I am glad I got to see that side of Jake, and my only regret is that I never got my camera out while they were here.
Marlene Waters
From their last night here, when we were all together, I remember a couple of things. One was Jake not feeling it had been his best bike trip as he couldn’t get his heart rate up. For all of you bikers, I’m sure you understand, but I remember joking with Alex saying “wasn’t it a good thing if you can bike all day and your heart wasn’t racing?” Jake tried to explain the difference, but I will never understand :)
The 2nd thing I remember was him playing with my 2 month old son. The first thing Jake did when he arrived for dinner was ask to see Benjamin. Instead of playing with him from a distance, he immediately held him and gushed about how cute that age was and how he was so excited to go through that stage again with their second child.
Jake loved how you could hold them and they would cuddle with you. I have known Jake since my first year of university, he was the guy that didn’t sit still when you talked to him, or would quickly jump on a tangent and have you laughing at how excited he got, but the Jake I saw holding my son was a Dad that understood how precious babies are, and who was already in love with his unborn child. I am glad I got to see that side of Jake, and my only regret is that I never got my camera out while they were here.
Marlene Waters
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