Jason’s parents, wife, family, and friends--
I don’t have one specific story when I think of Jason Erie. I have a sea of memories of a dear grade school friend that I considered to be in my close circle as I graduated Potomac High School in 1993. I haven’t found evidence yet (did we have year books in grade school?), but I am fairly certain I met Jason at Washington Reid/Pattie Elementary school. Throughout elementary, middle and high school we were in many classes together and I realized quickly how bright Jason was. He never seemed to have to invest anywhere near the time and energy into studying as many of us did, but always seemed to be at the front of the class with his grades. He especially excelled in math and history. He entertained Ms. Emmons’ US Government class and was always up for an adventure to Old Town Alexandria for ice cream, a DC trip, hang out at Dolphin beach, etc. I remember Jason was quiet and inquisitive and very thoughtful. How he ever put up with me I’ll never know… Kristen Featherstone Sahlberg can tell you that I was horribly slow in the mornings and lived at the top of one of the worst pipestem driveways in Montclair. Yes, we may have been late to homeroom often when Jason volunteered to include me in the carpool. Although often we did squeak in to class, due to Jason’s love of driving fast and blaring the latest Nirvana album or other ‘new’ bands of the early 90’s. Jason was the quiet guy with a great sense of dry humor and wit, but even greater intellect. He seemed to always be where you would not necessarily predict him to be – on the tennis team, ‘policing’ Montclair as a security guard, and in the background of numerous high school events. I will remember Jason as a good friend- he was someone that most people wondered about – he was reserved and shy at first meetings and had a curiosity about him. Once you got to know him, he was a person who always seemed to be where the fun was happening and knew the meaning of a true friend. He will be thought of in the very best regard.
May your special memories of Jason provide some comfort to you in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead knowing also that he left a legacy in the lives of all those whom he has touched.
God Bless you and your family.
Tara Cristian Perdue
