34 responses so far ↓

• 1 cindy // Mar 26, 2008 at 9:51 am

  Oh no. My heart goes out to his beautiful family. Jason was awesome! I loved his energy and enthusiasm for life. I felt so privledged to have had the opportunity to know him and work with him. Jason I will truly miss you.

• 2 owen howlett // Mar 26, 2008 at 10:56 pm

  This is so sad, I only met Jason a handful of times but of course he made a big impression. Not only because he was so vested in changing things for the better, but because he was so genuinely interested in people. I wish I’d had a chance to get to know him better.

• 3 Brody // Mar 27, 2008 at 10:53 am

  Unbelievably sad. Jason was a passionate guy. I only met him a few times, but his enthusiasm was apparent in everything he did.

• 4 Erik // Mar 27, 2008 at 11:33 am

  I’m very saddened to hear this news, my heart goes out to his family and friends, including everyone at LJUrban who knew him well. As others have already said here, he was truly passionate, gifted, and a wonderful person. Thanks Levi for sharing your thoughts with us via the blog.

• 5 Craig McMurray // Mar 27, 2008 at 12:49 pm

  A tragic loss.

• 6 dustin littrell // Mar 27, 2008 at 2:12 pm

  I am truly speechless, this is just such an unexpected loss…my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and colleagues. I will miss his passion and enthusiasm for all things. He has inspired me in so many ways. Jason, you will be missed!

• 7 levi // Mar 27, 2008 at 2:55 pm

  I just got an email from one of Jason’s friends he used to work with and he did a post about the good times they used to share.
  You can read it here http://keytowriting.blogspot.com/

• 8 Ian M // Mar 28, 2008 at 9:25 am

  Jason is an unprecedented man with a righteous vision. I will remember him as embodying everything that is good about our profession. The city is a little more empty today.

• 9 Maureen // Mar 28, 2008 at 10:05 am

  To Levi and everyone at LJ Urban, I am so very sorry to learn of Jason’s passing. He made a great impression on me, his vibrant enthusiasm and good humor, his articulate expression of the vision were all inspirational. My heart goes out to you and to his family.

  Building the kind of community that Jason envisioned will be a fitting tribute. I pledge my best efforts.

• 10 dustin littrell // Mar 28, 2008 at 10:20 am

  I second that pledge…

• 11 Ryan Hammond // Mar 28, 2008 at 1:32 pm

  I am so sad to hear of this. But am so happy to have met him, and been touched by his vision (of which I only saw but a fraction and was inspired!). Such enthusiasm and thinking outside the box. Many great seeds have been planted by this man. He left this world a better place for sure. Thanks for all you did, Jason!

• 12 Jeffery Rosenhall // Mar 29, 2008 at 7:31 am

  I just read about Jason passing away this morning - what a blow to the gut. He was an amazing guy who could teach optimists about optimism. We need more Jason Presleys - not fewer. My heart goes out to his family and close colleagues at LJ. He made a big impact on me in a brief amount of time and I always came away more hopeful than ever. His contributions to this community were felt. Thanks Jason.

• 13 Michael Zwahlen // Mar 29, 2008 at 8:11 am

  Jason will be missed more than we know. I had a lump in my throat when I learned of his passing. I offer a big hug to all those who got to be a part of his life. He was a great person in so many ways.

• 14 Costa Apostolos // Mar 29, 2008 at 9:28 am

  I was blown away when reading this today. I had the pleasure of meeting Jason on a couple occasions and it didn’t take more than one time to realize what a great and passionate person he was.

  He was take too soon from this community, but for the the time he was with us, the world is much better.

• 15 Chris Morfas // Mar 29, 2008 at 9:44 am

  A stunning blow.

  What a pleasure it was to share a handful of special hours with Jason over the past year. My heart goes out to his beautiful family…and to our little movement for a sustainable Sacramento. We’ll all have to try a little harder.

  Perhaps an appropriate tribute would be to pledge to re-enact Park(ing) Day each year; we could name the recaptured spaces Presley Parks?

  Hugs to all.

• 16 cindy // Mar 29, 2008 at 9:10 pm

  What a cool idea Chris!

• 17 Michael Nevin // Mar 29, 2008 at 9:16 pm

  I met Jason this last Christmas. He and I hit it off as I shared my disdain for the dominance of the car in the U.S. He and his wife had my family over for dinner and it was such a relaxing visit that I felt I had known him my whole life. He shared with me his faith journey, about finding God on the beach. Although short, it was a dear friendship. I have faith that I will one day see him again in the company of the Master Designer.

• 18 Steven Kempster // Mar 30, 2008 at 11:30 am

  My most sincere condolences to his family and the entire LJ Urban family for Jason’s passing. I only knew Jason through his passionate writing and advocacy for living sustainably. I alwayws felt the same way after reading his posts: inspired and active. God bless him on his next journey.

• 19 William Burg // Mar 31, 2008 at 7:44 am

  I’m so sorry. It’s almost unbelievable when someone that inspired and energetic dies so young. My condolences to his family.

  Jason won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

• 20 Eric Fredericks // Mar 31, 2008 at 11:30 am

  This is such a shocking loss. I can’t even imagine how everyone is going to continue on without Jason in their lives. He’s been an incredible inspiration to me in the short time I’ve known him.

  I posted an article with some of my memories and thoughts about Jason: http://neighborhoods.org/article/weve-all-lost-a-great-friend

  I also placed some links to photos of Jason and some photos from last year’s PARKing Day event.
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/neighborhoods/tags/jasonpresley/
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/neighborhoods/sets/72157603024716370/

  If anyone has additional information about upcoming services for Jason, please let me know.

  I also agree with Chris Morfas’s comment above that we should continue Jason’s legacy with Presley Parks.

• 21 Chris Watson // Mar 31, 2008 at 11:51 am

  I am without words .

  Jason was a true visionary and a great person . Our city and world has lost a truly great spirit .

  My prayers and thoughts to his family .

  He will be missed .

• 22 trishadev // Mar 31, 2008 at 6:50 pm

  I’m so sorry that Jason passed away. I did not know him, but Rachel mentioned that he was ill. Our prayers are with his family. So sad.

  No more suffering for him though. He’s with His Savior.

• 23 Colleen Whalen // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:25 am

  Deep within the lake of Jason’s heart….there burned a magic fire. Jason simply lit up the room when he walked through the door, because he radiated a luminous, spiritual glow.
  I had no idea he had a terminal liver disease…..it is hard to understand how someone so full of life, passion, scintillating high energy, beaming health and radiance could die so young - just a mere 36 years old.

  In the last year, I only had the honor to be in Jason’s presence 5 or 6 times - but even in our brief acquaintence - he touched my spirit on a profound level.

  I am a changed person by knowing Jason, even if we were only acquaintences.

  I can’t even begin to imagine the pain Jason’s beloved, beauteous wife and precious children must be going though. My heart goes out to his family. You are all in my prayers.

  Jason’s death is such a great loss to our community. He made such a profound difference in the world - and the planet is a better place because he inhabitied it - even for just a brief, shining, far too short amount of time……

  Jason’s death has made me even more committed to my work as an Urban Permaculturalist/Urban organic farmer. With Jason’s passing away - it motivates me to work even harder, continuing the planetary healing environmental work Jason felt so passionate about.

  Keep Hope Alive,

  Colleen Whalen

• 24 John Lewis // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm

  Such a terrible loss. I only had the pleasure of meeting Jason in person once, but we exchanged the occasional email about various topics, including our little ones and the vision for family-friendly housing. He was such a positive thinker. My heart goes out to his family.

• 25 Tuesday // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:10 pm

  Farewell Dear Jason,

  You must now be in a place of perfection, where every parking space is green and there is always enough of everything for everyone.

  It has been very hard to let you go.

  You can’t feel pain anymore and in eternity where you are, you probably can’t even miss your precious family or friends because of your amazing joy, but our hearts are with them and our prayers we hope are sustaining them in Jesus’ love.

  Through the lense of my camera, I first met you. I thought you were one of the most beautiful people I had ever photographed as you held your child. It wounds me to know you will not be here with us any longer, but it gives me great joy to know we will get to see you again one day.

  Thank you for being a visionary and a revolutionist. You were one of most genuine and reality based Christians we ever knew, we could all pause and let your leadership influence our lives.

  All our love to Michelle, and the babies. Michelle, whatever you need, just let us know we’ll make it happen.
  Love in Christ,
  Tuesday & Evan Watson

• 26 Bill Burns // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:24 pm

  “I can say one thing for sure, anyone who was privileged to spend any amount of time with Jason surely came away a better person.”
  Amen, Levi. You got it just right.
  BILL

• 27 Floyd Diebel // Apr 2, 2008 at 11:15 am

  spending 2 years working with jason on finding LJ Urban’s voice and identity was quite an experience, i miss our heated discussions & debates already. What a neat guy he was.

• 28 Joy Mosgofian // Apr 3, 2008 at 8:00 am

  My friend Devin said it so well. Upon hearing of Jason’s heart no longer beating, she said, “But he’s one of the most alive people I know, even the ends of his curly hair exude life.” …. and his crinkled nose, smile squinting eyes, head thrown back laugh and sincere and passionate care. Wow, I ache for the family and for so many of us. Jason joyfully submitted to being a phenomenal person. I trust God to hold Michelle and all through the aching of his absence and to grow and multiply all the imperishable gifts Jason gave out with such generosity and abandon. Shoosh.

• 29 Kathi Pelton // Apr 3, 2008 at 4:02 pm

  Jason’s smile lit up any room he walked into, just as his work lights up this website and his visionary ideas and eternal hope will never stop sending forth light to all who knew him. The Presley Family is pure beauty! From his wife, Michelle, and his beautiful daughters, Aria and Lyra…even to his parents, Gerry and Aurora and sister and family. They are all beautiful and the world is a better place because they have touched it…and us!

  Jason will forever be missed and yet never forgotten!

• 30 Cassandra Hess // Apr 3, 2008 at 9:46 pm

  Thanks for all the comments I’ve just read with a lump in my throat. Jason was a “coming of age” friend. We met in that transition time between high-school and adult-hood. He was everything written above. I feel so lucky to have had his friendship. We’d kept in touch over the years, though not enough. He and Michelle live the ideals I love. I’d peek over to this blog every now and then to see what was happening in the world of Jason and sustainability.
  Jason wrote a little story for myself and 2 others one Christmas over 15 years ago. I was feeling a little blue last year, and became obsessed with finding that story. I looked high and low for that story. I dug through every box of stored treasures both at my home, and my Mom’s. Months later, I finally found that one page story, and it warmed my heart. Jason left little pieces like that all over. I know he’ll continue to warm hearts for many years to come as we reflect on the stories Jason leaves with us. We’re all enriched having known him.

• 31 Shelley Petracek // Apr 4, 2008 at 7:43 am

  I met Jason at our college group with Pete B..
  He had just done his D.T.S. with YWAM and Becky, Stephanie and I were about to go do our D.T.S.. He was so on fire for God and his fire was contagious! Through the years when I would happen to see him, his smile would remind me of the funny Jason from our college group days. It was wonderful to see the way he and Michelle were running hard after God and training up their “world shakers”! We were all so excited that they were going to move back to Santa Rosa! Some things we JUST don’t understand and his departure is surely one of those for me. Jason, we will do our best to take care of those you left behind. We will see you again and I bet that smile will be BIGGER than ever!

• 32 Lia Duncan // Apr 4, 2008 at 12:31 pm

  I read the beautiful post about Jason’s passing and all of the wonderful thoughts shared about him over the last week. I have felt completely inadequate trying to articulate how wonderful my experience was with him but here’s an attempt.

  Working with him, he always had a smile to greet me in the morning, asking me how my family was. He was like that with everyone. I also honestly feel he was one of the most passionate people I’ve ever met. He had a passion for life, work, God and his beautiful family. I hope that the love and joy that he gave to others radiates, comforts and sustains Michelle, Aria and Lyra and all those who miss his presence.

• 33 Jessica Delgado // Apr 5, 2008 at 4:41 pm

  I just learned about Jason’s passing today, and I am so grateful to you all for sharing so much more about him and what he meant to you than the small little obituary in the santa rosa newspaper from which I learned about his death. Jason was my first love–back when we were in 8th grade, two years after our childhood friendship began. After a year of kid-romance, he stayed an incredibly special and unique friend of mine through college. We lost touch then, so I never got the chance to meet his beautiful wife and daughters. Thank you to everyone who has posted all the pictures–it was so wonderful to see his sparkling smile and to see the love he had for his family. I just wanted to chime in for the sake of all of his community who obviously love and respect him so much, to say that all the optomism, love of life, enthusiasm, passion, and genuine compassion, respect for everyone he met, honesty, and integrity that you all have seen in him, were present even when he was a little boy in 6th grade with a pink polo shirt and a turned up collar. He was unique–he was genuinely good, in a way kids that age rarely are. He was my friend through dark times. He understood me when few did. He was, and lived, full and guided by love and true friendship. I am deeply sad that he has left this earth.

• 34 Jason Atterbury // Apr 7, 2008 at 9:19 am

  Jason, you were always a great friend to me. One who was accepting and would never judge. One who loved and one who I loved. Your life remains an exmple to me. I remember fondly our times of prayer, camping with our fathers, nights out with other friends, and times we played various sports together. Memories flood when I think back or look at pictures. Though we did not keep in touch that often over the last few years, I know our friendship remained. Until we meet again in the presence of our Lord…
  Jason

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