Montclair, N.J. – Three days ago, Montclair came together with an outpouring of support for Jordan Tassy who was hospitalized with COVID-19 on March 16th.
In a pastoral message, Rev Anya Sammler-Michael of the The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, shared heartbreaking news with her congregation Thursday evening.
“Early this morning we lost a dear one, a child of this congregation, Jordan Tassy. Twenty-two years of age, he died of complications of COVID-19,” said Rev. Sammler-Michael, who also read Psalm 23. She stated that plans were not in place yet for a memorial.
Friends of Jordan also paid tribute to him on Instagram, on an account created this week for the community to show their love.
Councilor Peter Yacobellis, who had only met Jordan recently, shared his experience:
Many of you have long known Jordan and I won’t pretend to understand your grief. Many of you have only recently gotten to know of Jordan because of work he was doing to augment our town services that were curtailed dramatically because of a COVID-19 outbreak among our employees. That’s how I got to know him and I am commenting from perspective of a member of an at-large community grieving him.
The Township had an unfortunate COVID-19 outbreak which impacted recycling pick-up services for a couple of weeks. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to help, Jordan got to work, helping residents, small businesses and non-profits get their recycling to the yard. (This is a photo I took of Jordan at the recycling yard on March 3rd when we were working together that day.)
I’ve been thinking a lot about service lately and community. The pandemic has shined a light on what those things look like in all of their forms. And for all of the darkness, we’ve also seen such beautiful spirit. Living the famous mantra of John F. Kennedy; Jordan didn’t ask what this town could do for him. He stepped up and asked what he could do for this town. That’s who we lost. And it’s devastatingly heartbreaking.
As I learn of the family’s desires and plans in the coming days I will share what, if anything they would want public participation in and what we might be able to do as a government to be supportive. For now, as you’ve done so much in the last 10 days, please join me in sending this grieving family your light and love.
Rest in eternal peace, Jordan. Thank you for your service to our community.