It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Jared Zachary Baillargeon Zimmerman, our son and brother, on April 15.  Jared had been suffering from an illness for the past four years which resulted in his death.

Jared was a young man of remarkable wit, intelligence, gentleness, curiosity, wisdom, a huge heart and a wonderfully quirky sense of humor.  Our lives were deeply enriched by his presence and will be profoundly diminished by his absence.  He was on the verge of completing his freshman year at Bard College where he continued to relish existential literature, abstract economic theory, and appreciation for classical music, as well as skateboarding and the outdoors.  He loved and was deeply loved by his family and friends.   He was thoughtful and loyal.  

Here is what Jared's sister Brianna wrote about mental illness and Jared's death. We are hopeful that its recent publication in the Huffington Post will send our love for Jared far and wide, and that others might be helped. 

We plan to hold a larger memorial service, in celebration of the life Jared lived, at a time to be announced this summer.

In the meantime, donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Jared’s memory to:

Farm and Wilderness Foundation Scholarship Fund‎
Click link above to donate online, or mail a check made out to "Farm and Wilderness Foundation" to:
Jen Flaster, Farm and Wilderness Foundation, 263 Farm & Wilderness Road, Plymouth, VT 05056.

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness 
To donate on-line, use the link above. If you prefer to mail a check, send it to NAMI, 3803 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203

Jared loved the outdoors and nature, hiking and backpacking, snowboarding, skiing and skateboarding. 

Jared, we miss you and love you so much.