|
| |
January 19, 1971 - May 12, 1997
Charming, funny, outrageous, loving, genuine,
loyal, intense, kind... Known as Jeremiah, Smack, or Moussa - depending on
the crowd.
Jeremiah was born in Portland, Maine to Donna and
Michael Mack. He was raised mostly in Stoughton and Raynham,
Massachusetts with his little sister Chelsea. Jeremiah graduated from Boston College High School in 1989 and
Tulane University in 1993. At Tulane, he earned the nickname "Smack" and
loved to play rugby and hang out with his rugby buddies in New Orleans.
After Tulane, he headed for Breckenridge, Colorado where he spent two years as a stone mason, lift operator, and busboy
while he planned for a future in the Peace Corps. He accepted a post
in Niger, West Africa, and became a Peace Corps Volunteer in August, 1995.
He lived there for nearly two years working with and teaching local masons to
construct "maisons sans bois" or "houses without wood". Shortly
before his death, Jeremiah decided to extend his service in the Peace Corps for
another year. His mother and his sister were both fortunate to speak with
Jeremiah on the day before his death. It was Mother's Day. He was
happy and excited about the trip he would make in July to visit his family
in Massachusetts and friends in Colorado. He spoke of plans for the future
and new love. He spent the evening with friends in Niamey. The next
morning, while driving to a friend's village to help her install some
windows, he swerved to avoid a man in the road. He was thrown from his
truck and hit his head, dieing instantly. The man ran to his side and
later said that Jeremiah looked as if he were sleeping.
To have known Jeremiah is to miss him greatly now
that he is gone. He was and is, in his own and very special way, an
inspiration and source of great joy and love.
Read an article written by Jeremiah's Uncle Mark:
Bridging life and death
Photo Gallery
Scroll through the photos by clicking on the small triangles to
either side of the thumbnail prints below. Initially, allow page to
download fully before scrolling through photos. Best viewed with Internet
Explorer. There are 49 pictures in total.
Jeremiah liked to call himself "a baseball playin' guy" In front of the fireplace in Scituate Benson's Wild Animal Farm
Jeremiah broke his arm chasing frogs in a field near home. Hanging out with Uncle Jeffrey (Biff) With Uncle Mark (RPCV Fiji) B.C. High Graduation, 1989 Freshman Dorm, Tulane University, 1989 With Tom and Jeanne in New Orleans Dave, Roger, "Smack", and Tom
T.R.F.C. Smack and his mum after a rugby game Drinking a beer through his nose! J and Jeremiah, "Pudding Man, Defender of Flowers," in Breckenridge Hiking with Jeffrey in Breckenridge Holding his new godchild Mackenzie (daughter of Tom & Jeanne), shortly before leaving for the Peace Corps At Uncle Mark's wedding in Easton, July 1995 Andy, Lee, Sarah, and Jeremiah Andy, Lee, Souleyman, and Jeremiah Relaxing at the home of 2 friendly foreign service officers in Niamey, waiting for the roads to open after first elections following a military coup. Jeremiah's home in the village of Goteye, Niger His bed for nearly 2 years Chelsea's visit to Niger, July 1996 On the beach in Llafranc, Spain with Chelsea View from the balcony of our mother's hotel in Paris.
She hadn't seen Jeremiah in almost a year, and couldn't have been happier. "I love this kid, Mum," Jeremiah said of Souleyman as he climbed the wall to Jeremiah's home, jumped into his lap, and she snapped this picture. Working on a project at the American School in Niamey The plaque that now adorns the building With Margie and friends in Niamey Looking for beer while on vacation in Burkina Faso Waving hello to his mum and showing off his new leather pants he had made in Niger.
Taken by Mrs. Gunderman, visiting her daughter.
Jeremiah's grave, tended with love by his mother Scott and Jen (former PCV friends) and baby Jeremiah, 1998 Cole Jeremiah, son of Tulane friends Kelly and Dave
In Others' Words
Read what others have written in to the site
about Jeremiah.
Patrick Kadian, 5/12/04
Stephen Hoyt, 3/14/04
To submit your own memories, email
webmaster@fpcv.org
|
