Jeremiah Ronald Park

His birth mother and father, Jessica and Jermaine, gave him the name Jeremiah. A few weeks later, his adoptive parents, David and Shelley Park, finalized his name to be Jeremiah Ronald Park. For many he became known as Jer, Jerm, JerBear or simply J. He was born March 13, 2004, in Dallas, Texas. It was an act of deliberate love that caused Jessica to place her Jeremiah with the Park family. In the open adoption, she was able to know and love him along with the Park family, all of his life.

Jeremiah moved, with his family, to College Station, then to Irving, then to Lubbock, then to Carrollton. He and his older brother, Samuel, led the family on many adventures — zip-lining, snowboarding, snorkeling, and talking strangers into taking them on boat rides.

All along the way, he was doing what he did best. He was accumulating lifelong friends and spreading joy. He loved fashion (and borrowing his friends clothes), baking, dancing and making everyone laugh. Though he was strong and athletic, he never really cared for sports. General fitness became his thing. He excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. He was vice-president of his high school class at Creekview High School, in Carrollton. He, along with his classmates, survived student life through Covid. He chose the University of Colorado for his college studies partly because he wanted to avoid the Texas heat. He studied Public Relations and was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity.

Jeremiah traveled many places in his all too short life including the Philippines, Mexico, Haiti, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, and several states in the US. He had plans to add 9 more countries to that list during his study abroad in the spring.

All who knew him loved him. So many at CU Boulder spoke of Jeremiah as their “best friend.” He was a force for good. A source of joy. A bright light. Much loved and sorely missed. His death on August 23, 2024, marks a day on which the world became a less joy-filled place. He is survived by his parents, David & Shelley Park, his brother, Samuel Park, his grandparents, Ron & Marilyn Holland and Jerry & Ann Park, his aunt Sara Holland and aunt and uncle, Kristi Park & Josh Lower, and at least a few hundred "best friends.” His light was too quickly removed, but his joy will remain in our hearts and the many blessed by his presence will continue to be blessed by his having been among us.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Jeremiah Park Memorial Fund at www.centerpeace.net/jeremiah-park-fund