Jason Mark Whiting

On Friday, November 6th, the world became a darker place when Jason Whiting lost his six month battle with leukemia. He passed peacefully and with his loving family by his side. Although he was forced to make many sacrifices as a result of his disease, which made him weak and kept him from being able to do the things he loved to do, he would never complain and remained the determined, hopeful, and positive soul that he was until the very end. Jason attended Mission San Jose High School in Fremont then later received his Bachelor’s degree from UC Davis. After college, he received his law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. He was a corporate lawyer for several years before deciding to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. So he left his successful job in law to work towards obtaining his Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at San Jose State University. This shows the true character of Jason - to leave his successful job as a lawyer to change careers to inspire students with his love of learning. Jason taught sixth grade at Gomes Elementary School in Fremont for several years and had been teaching sixth grade at Warm Springs Elementary School in Fremont for nearly a decade. Jason, or Mr. Whiting as his students know him, touched many lives and influenced many of his students. Besides teaching the required curriculum, he knew that being a good teacher involved going beyond academics and instilling in his students the importance of being a good person and building strong moral values. He was more than just a teacher to his students - he was their friend, their confidante, and their supporter in pursuing their own personal dreams. He fostered a sense of family and community in his classroom which enabled his students to feel safe and valued for the unique individuals that they are. Jason was his usual thoughtful, kind, and funny self right to the end. The world lost an incredible husband, soulmate, best friend, son, son-in-law (really more like a son) brother, brother-in-law (really like a brother) idolized uncle, great uncle (really great) cousin, teacher, colleague, mentor, coach, friend, and, really … just an all-around great person. Jason is survived by his beloved and devoted wife Eden, his father Tom of Brentwood and mother-in-law Edna of Fremont, his brothers John (Karon) of Piedmont and Jared (Roxanne) of Pleasanton, sisters Judy (Kevin) Sollitt of Fremont and Jill (Scott) Sollitt of Livermore, sister-in-law Minna (Charles) of San Jose, many adoring nieces and nephews, and his faithful puppy companion Trixie. He was predeceased by his mother, Sally, and father-in-law Benjamin. A Memorial Mass will be held for Jason on Monday, November 16th, 11am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 43148 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539. Memorial gifts in Jason’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org) and/or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org).

Jason Mark Whiting

September 21, 1966 - November 6, 2015