Willow Glen Resident
News
Bret Harte 6th-grader remembered for positive nature at packed service
By Stephen Baxter
Almaden Valley 12-year-old Jerry Huang was remembered at a memorial service on March 29 as an artistic, generous boy whose life was cut short.
Jerry's teachers, fellow Boy Scouts and student musicians gathered with more than 100 friends and family members at Chinese Church in Christ on Saratoga Avenue to celebrate his life.
"He made an impact on many people's lives," said the Rev. Thomas Chen, who conducted the service. "My heart goes out to the friends and family of Jerry."
Jerry was born in 1995 in Tucson, Ariz., to Taiwanese immigrant parents. His family has lived in the Almaden Valley since 1997.
In a March 14 P.E. class at Bret Harte Middle School, Jerry complained of a sharp headache. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and died of a brain aneurysm at 12:45 p.m.
He was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos the morning of March 29.
Jerry's friends and relatives described a boy who liked drawing, street hockey, playing music and Boy Scout activities. Several Boy Scouts from Troop 606, which Jerry joined in 2007, spoke at the service and remembered Jerry's lighter side.
"We didn't know him as well we wanted to, but he would make us laugh," said 17-year-old Steven Hu.
Steven and some older Scouts were teaching Jerry how to use a camp stove when a flame rose, singeing the front of Jerry's hairline.
"Once we made sure his eyebrows were still on, he kind of wanted to do it again," Steven said.
Mimi Fuji, Jerry's art teacher, told the group how he would channel his energy in to his drawings. "He understood the power of art," she said.
Classmates lined up at a microphone to thank Jerry for the cookies and noodle snacks he shared at lunch, and the jokes he would tell while walking home from school.
Jerry's mother and father, Wanju and Jimmy Huang, gave guests a bookmark with Jerry's art, and they wrote a message to Jerry in a program.
"Our recently finished house feels empty and cold without your presence. Your room's decorations left undone, each painting laying there shows your smiles. We really don't understand why God took away our very talented son in such a short time. The time that you belonged to us is too short," they wrote.
Jerry is survived by his parents and his brother, Justin.
A memorial fund has been set up to pay for Jerry's funeral expenses. Checks with "For Jerry" in the memo area can be mailed to Joan Shih, 1124 Silver Canyon Drive, San Jose, CA 95120. Checks also may be dropped at Bret Harte Middle School's student services center at 7050 Bret Harte Drive in San Jose.
