Jamie Noonan

Remembering Jamie: A Light That Still Shines

It’s been many years since March 1, 1995—a date etched in our hearts forever. That was the day we said goodbye to Jamie: a beloved son, a protective brother, a cherished nephew, an adored grandchild, a friend to so many and now a deeply missed uncle-in-spirit to a new generation. He was only young, but in the short time he was here, Jamie lived more fully than most people do in a lifetime.

Jamie was strong—not just in body, but in spirit. He had a natural gift for sports and the passion he showed in everything he did. Weather it was basketball. Volleyball, badminton, or any game that involved movement and teamwork, Jamie shone. He was competitive , determined, and endlessly encouraging to those around him. To watch him play was to witness joy in motion.

In April of 1994, Jamie was diagnosed with leukemia. It was a moment that shook our world, we had no idea what Leukemia was and what was to be expected. He received treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, and as hard as it was, Jamie faced it with incredible courage. He endured surgeries, long days, and painful treatments with the kind of strength that left us in awe. He came home in October, we clung to hope, but shortly after Christmas, his health declined. On March 1st, 1995 we lost him.

But here’s the truth: Jamie has never really left us.

He lives on in the stories we tell, the laughter we share, and most profoundly, in the eyes and hearts of his niece and two nephews—children who never had the chance to meet their uncle, but speak of him as if they’ve known him their whole lives, as if his presence was simply too strong to disappear. It’s as though a piece of Jamie rests in each of them. We see it when they run, when they joke, when they care deeply for others. It’s in the way they move, in their stubborn determination and in their wild love for sports. Jamie echoes in their joy.

To honor him, our family now raises funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. We walk, we rally, we give—because we remember the fear, the pain, the helplessness. And we remember the love. If our efforts can help one more family feel supported, one more child receive care, one more life be saved—then Jamie’s legacy grows even stronger.

Jamie was more than his illness. He was life, and energy, and kindness, and heart. And even now, decades later, he continues to make us better people—stronger, more compassionate, more united.

We miss him. We love him. We remember him. Always.