Jason Brightfield, a graduate of Clayton High School and the University of Missouri School of Journalism, died after a long and brave battle against brain cancer, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. He was 26 years old and a resident of Clayton at the time of his passing.

Jason Brightfield was born in St. Louis on March 26, 1982, the son of Bethe and Keith Brightfield. He attended Clayton public schools and graduated from Clayton High School. He was also a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, and was an incoming student at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University at the time of his passing.

A statement from Jason’s family noted, “Jason was adored by his many friends whose lives he touched each and every day in unforgettable ways.”

“Jason had the ability to live each day to the fullest and he impacted not only those closest to him, but the greater community in which he lived. He loved people and dedicated his time and energy to those causes that were important to him at each stage of his short life: high school student government and activities, the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, the Wellness and Cancer Community and many others. He touched the lives of many and he will be loved and remembered forever.”

Before the onset of his illness, Jason Brightfield had endeared himself to his many classmates and other friends in the Clayton public schools, including their parents who always enjoyed hearing from him and who appreciated the quality of his character and his loyalty to friends. When he was diagnosed with a brain tumor four years ago, he continued to stay in close and constant touch with his friends through e-mails, which included an especially poignant “Letter to Cancer,” in which he took on the illness with his grit and warm sense of humor and the ironic which endeared him to so many.

In the letter, which he begins with a “sigh,” Jason says, “It has been a long strange trip these four years and I am so ready to be done with you forever. Given my age and the unique timing of my diagnosis, I feel like I went straight from college onto another degree, and should now be earning my Ph.D. in the Big C. If they only offered such things.” Jason continued, waxing philosophically: “I have met some amazing people and been to some pretty cool places because of you, Cancer. From a zip line outside of Austin to a ski slope in Montana, you’ve provided me with several free trips and the memories to boot, not to mention an easy ticket to some of the top medical facilities in the country. I can’t say I haven’t ‘done this right’ every step of the way. Being here in DC where I ended up also helped a little bit. One thing I have to say for you, Cancer, is that you pick some amazingly inspiring people to bother in their 20s and 30s. I would never still be tickin’ without the subtle yet invaluable inspiration of my fellow young adult suvivors. What an incredible community!”

“Knowing there is life after cancer, even after 3 or 4 times around the block (yes!) is what keeps me going…Life is so amazingly rich and I know I have you to thank for making that realization more full than it normally would be at my age.”

Among the countless e-mail messages sent in response to Jason’s passing was one which paid tribute to him with his nickname, “Pea,” or “Sweet Pea.” The blog, “In memory of Sweet Pea,” by former roommate Patrick Rollins, said, in part, “Last night I found I lost a friend, Jason Brightfield, who I lived with for the better part of four years of college, passed away this week. Sweet Pea, as he was nicknamed freshman year, had been suffereing from cancer for a few years, and those of us who knew him didn’t think he had much of a chance. After all, Jason was the most organized, put-together, in shape, dedicated guy I’ve ever known. He fought off cancer a few times, but in the end, the disease won. If he can die so young, what does that say to the rest of us? It’s beyond weird to think that he wrote a blog post just eight days ago, one that indicated things were down but certainly not out.”

Another, among many others in the “Guest Book for Jason Brightfield,” is from Beth Lebowitz of Rockville, Maryland: “My deepest sympathy goes out to Jason’s family. I had the pleasure of working with Jason at IQ Solutions in Maryland. I don’t ever remember a moment when he wasn’t smiling and was always so enthusiastic. He touched so many lives in ways words cannot describe. Jason was a truly remarkable, one-of-a-kind guy. His positive outlook in life was amazing in spite of his battle. Jason will be deeply missed by all.”

Linda Kitchel of St. Louis, added, “I remember in one of our group meetings at the Wellness Community, he had said that he can’t wait until his taste in his mouth comes back so that he could eat McDonald’s. He always saw the positive and was an inspiration to me as a young person with cancer as well.”

Tributes to Jason were also included in an article by Alice Blood in the Sept. 26 edition of The Maneater, the Mizzou student newspaper which Jason had served as business manger.

“Mr. Brightfield graduated from MU in 2004 with a bachelor’s in journalism,” the obituary reads.

“He was the Maneater’s business manager from 2003 to 2004. “He really liked being in charge there,” college roommate Patrick Rollins said. College friend Allison Fennell said he was a positive person throughout his three cancer treatments, and he contributed to cancer support groups. ‘He always liked having something to do,’ Fennel said. ‘In a funny way cancer gave him an opportunity to be part of a community, a special community, and make a difference,'” Blood’s article states.

Jason Brightfield was the son of Bethe and Keith Brightfield; brother of Joel Brightfield; grandson of Ruth and the late Nick Pantell and Marge and Bob Brightfield; nephew of Ken Pantell, Ken and Patti Brightfield, Tom and Linda Brightfield and Cindy Bick, and cousin to Cait, Drew, Doug, Margi, Colin, Eric, Chris and Alec.

Funeral services were scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, at Central Reform Congregation.

Rabbi Dale Schreiber, a chaplain at Barnes/Jewish Hospital, who worked with Jason during his illness, officiated, in keeping with Jason’s request.

Rabbi SusanTalve of CRC told the St. Louis Jewish Light, “It’s so heartbreaking to lose Jason. That guy really got around. He was my daughter Adinah’s counselor at the Children’s Summer Theatre and his brother Joel is my daughter Rika’s age. He has so many friends and we are all devastated by his loss.”

At the funeral service Sunday in the Sanctuary of CRC, Rabbi Schreiber said, “A month ago, Jason asked me to officiate at this, his final life cycle. I am here as a mourner with you, knowing Jason from Glenridge (elementary school) as one of the Little-Guys, seeing him in his many enthusiastic roles in middle and high school, and finally, coming to know him on a deeper and infinitely more intimate level as an oncology chaplain and rabbi at Barnes/Jewish Hospital.

“It was a privilege and honor to accompany our remarkable and resilient Jason through the many twists and turns in his life with the relentless cancer which robbed him of his future here with us,” Rabbi Schreiber continued.

“And, I will say that as relentless as the disease was, Jason was more so in his mission to live fully and meaningfully. Jason had many unique qualities.

“I saw the complexities of his emotional make-up as his famiy sat together and each distilled out the one quality they experienced above all others in Jason…It is a good and healing exercise to sit together with friends and share that deep essence of him. I was not surprised that each family member named a different quality.”

Remembrances and remarks were also offered by friends and family members at the service, including Gavi Weiner, Lauren Goldkamp, Jason’s Aunt Linda, his Uncle Tom for David Gutwein, his Grandmother, “Granny” Ruth Pantell; his brother Joel and his mother and father, Bethe and Keith Brightfield.

Memorial contributions preferred to the Wellness Community, 10587 Old Des Peres Road, St. Louis, Mo 63131.