The Wilson aquatics community is mourning the loss of one of its own.
Kobe Jackson, who graduated in the class of 2017, passed away in his sleep on August 24.
He was 22 years-old.
“I am still a little numb by the whole thing,” Wilson boys swim coach Eric Berg said.
Berg, whose sons Jack (same class as Kobe) and Max (two years younger) were on the swim and water polo teams with Jackson, said Kobe accompanied the family to tournaments (swim and water polo) and dinners.
Jackson had a “good sense of humor” and was “quick with the jokes.”
“He was always attempting to be the life of the party,” Berg said.
Jackson, who swam the butterfly and sprint freestyle events at Wilson, was involved at Wilson and a leader in a variety of ways including being ASB President.
He spent two years on the LBCC water polo team and had 43 goals and 21 assists in 46 games played according to his bio page on LBCC’s website.
A GoFundMe page has been established and raised over $18,000 with all donations going toward the “memorial and funeral expenses” according to the page.
Jackson was an EMT and a graduate from the Rio Hondo Fire Academy and a memorial and paddle out are tentatively scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 11/12.
“Kobe was ALWAYS positive and he was a beacon during our dark times in the academy,” said members of the Rio Hondo Fire Academy’s Class No. 95 in a post on the GoFundMe page. “He will be greatly missed by his brothers and sisters and we hold tight to the memories and experiences we shared. Rest easy Jackson, until Valhalla.”
He was also a swim instructor at the Long Beach Yacht Club.
“He was always willing to give up a piece of him to help out others,” Berg said.
