Jack Steinbrunner hit hard. I think a gut feeling is an understatement. I never met him, but I can understand how it feels when someone young and vibrant suddenly passes away. Today, the entire Brentsville District High School community is in shock, and the family is going through something that no one should ever have to.
Jack was known by his parents, Lindsay and Jamie, and sister Ally, in that order. They all had a family and friends support system around them in their most indescribable hour. Everyone who has come to know Jack describes him as the kind, quiet, always kind of a guy who was ready to help everyone. He drew the kind of online chatter that he had a notable impact, even as it was small.
Family friend Andy Jacks spoke of the Steinbrunner family over many years. He remembered Jack as someone who worked, always guarding the respect of others, even very young age. When I read that, it reminded me of a friend of mine who died back some years ago. He is still described in similar ways, and it hurts that he was like that, but also in a nice way, that he left some goodness behind for us.
Another classmate, Susan Hawkins, talked about how sudden the loss felt to everyone. She commented that people should keep Jack’s family in their prayers because the whole situation is something that really can’t be grasped unless one has experienced it. Such are vivid instances that remind me of how fast life changes.
Likewise, Kathy Lensch, another long-time family friend, described their suffering. She wrote about how a mother and father feel empty without their son and how his sister lost her closest friend. I could almost feel that heaviness in her writing. An additional detail remained with me: Kathy insisted that everyone is to tell their loved ones that they love them. That one really hit since I do forget to say it sometimes, even though I really feel it.
Another resident, Bradley Marshall, called on everyone to support Jack’s family. He mentioned Jack’s age: only sixteen. Loss, he lamented, had shaken every person around him so deeply. Imagining such things made me visualize Jack on the quietest of days, walking down school halls with all that was taking a toll on the teams doing this in his absence.
With Jack’s departure, he left an unfilled space. The family has had people gather around, sharing memories, extending support, and trying to take off even a wee bit of the pain. Even though I didn’t know him, all these writings gave me the impression that he was a candle in everyone’s life, and such memories last forever. You may also be interested in: Why GTA 6 “AI Leak Chaos” Is Breaking Internet Right Now and What It Means
