Brendan Jackson Obituary (1998 – 2024) Ann Arbor, MI: On May 10, 2024, Brendan Lawrence Jackson, 26, died quietly at home in the company of his loved ones. On February 1, 1998, Brendan was born in Flint, Michigan. Some things never changed—Brendan loved to read, play with his sisters and numerous cousins, and watch Scooby-Doo. He took to skiing with passion, participating in the Grand Blanc High School competition and taking family and friends skiing vacations. Brendan was intelligent from an early age; his father would tell anyone who would listen about his Eagle Scout project and his flawless ACT score.
Brendan studied computer science in engineering at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he received his Magna Cum Laude degree. Despite his busy schedule of attending concerts and music festivals, he led his colleagues in the Shipman Scholars, MUNUM, and Theta Tau. Brendan briefly relocated to Madison, WI after graduating, where he worked for Shop Bop. But Brendan felt that his employment was unsatisfying, so he left the corporate world to use the legal system to directly improve the world.
Brendan was diagnosed with Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma, an extremely uncommon malignancy, when he was submitting his law school application. Brendan made the decision to remain in Ann Arbor and attend the University of Michigan Law School after his original tumor was successfully removed after surgery at the University of Michigan.
In law school, Brendan was a fervent supporter of the underprivileged. He worked with the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office, the ACLU, the UM Human Trafficking Clinic, and the Michigan Civil Rights Litigation Initiative. He was ready to start pro bono legal aid work with Legal Services of South Central Michigan in June. Brendan had a strong commitment to standing out for the rights of the disabled and queer communities, as well as for people who have been subjected to unfair, unjust, or discriminating treatment.
The choice to attend law school in Ann Arbor again in 2021 was crucial because it allowed Brendan to get back in touch with a former teaching assistant from his undergraduate days who had guided him through his first engineering course at Michigan. That June, while Brendan was traveling across the country with his family and visiting national parks, James and Brendan got back in touch. Brendan and James were clearly meant to be together for the long haul after their five-day first date.
The perfect environment to capture Brendan and James’ relationship was envisioned by Brendan as a combination bookstore, patisserie, coffee shop, and wine-tasting room (to keep James occupied). There would be plenty of space for everyone to play board games or curl up with a good book, and perhaps even offer free legal assistance to those in need from the confines of the stacks.
Sadly, Brendan’s disease eventually overcame his physical form, but not his mental state. Brendan will always be known for his trademark eye rolls, razor-sharp humor, infatuation with pop culture, books, and board games.
In addition to his parents Rick and Lori Jackson, sisters Alexis and Maggie Jackson (as well as Juno), grandparents Darrell and Jan Sprague and Jim and Melanie Jackson, aunts and uncles Dave and Jackie Sprague, Amy and Joe Hollowell, Theresa Jackson, Larry and Julie Jackson, numerous cousins, great aunts and uncles, and many close friends who became family, Brendan leaves behind her husband James Coller (as well as their devoted dog, Percy Jackson).
Brendan wanted to be of assistance to everyone and was committed to doing everything in his power to spare people from the suffering caused by cancer. As a parting present to the world, Brendan gave his malignant tissue to the Rucker Collier Foundation’s research team, which will use it to further our understanding of cell lines and intensify our hunt for a therapy and, eventually, a cure for SEF. Instead of sending flowers, please think about contributing to Brendan’s ongoing battle against cancer, particularly SEF, the uncommon disease that took his life much too soon.