Just finding out about this and reeling with the news... My heart goes out to family members and friends. Jake was a gem of a human being. We met when I picked him up hitchhiking out of Lanark one day about 6 years ago. (I almost never pick up hitchhikers, but, for some unknown reason, was called to that day.} He was working for a friend as a handy man and I mentioned the possibility of some work, so he gave me his number. A year later, renovations were imminent and I came across that scrap of paper as I readied to move.
As I got to know Jake over that summer, the thing I appreciated most about him was that, despite a very difficult past, which he was very open about, he was one of the biggest hearted and most loving people I have ever met. Doing an honest day's work was important to him and you just knew by talking to him that his integrity was intact.
I haven't seen him too many times since, but this planet feels diminished without his presence on it. Rest in Peace, Jake.
