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Jason Kurtz, 33, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, at home, surrounded by those who loved him and by those whom he loved, after four years of "kicking cancer's butt" in Jason's words.
Mr. Kurtz was born March 1, 1974, in Bloomington, Ill., to Carolyn and Larry Kurtz. He joined Flagstaff Medical Center as an LPN in 1998. He was accepted into the RN new graduate program on 3 South in 2002. He was promoted to 3-S clinical coordinator in 2004. He was well-loved and respected by his coworkers and teammates. Mr. Kurtz, who had RN, BSN and CMSRN designations, was awarded the Nurse of the Year Leadership Award at FMC, and he was then nominated for the March of Dimes Nursing Leadership award, where he was honored for his achievements. In April 2006, he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks to throw out the first pitch of the season.
He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed halibut fishing in Alaska, hunting and skiing. His smile, sense of humor and the mutual respect and compassion he showed others will be deeply missed.
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Robert Casillas
Mr. Jason Kurtz ...Wow, so sad to see you and our fellow classmates leave us so early and so young. I knew Jason only from school. It is truely sad to hear of his passing here. Jason was one of the few classmates I recall. Jason was on the football team with me/us. I sucked at football and spent 99% of my time on the sidelines, and Jason was there with me MUCH of the time. I once comlained that coming to practice and never getting to play in games sucked, but in the calmest way Jason walked-up to me and said, "I understand Casillas..I suck too..but chics dig the jerseys..." Maybe it was only funny to me, but it was halarious and it made the rest of the practices easier and explained why I continued to keep playing a sport I sucked at, because of Jason's candid & humoristic words of encouragement. His sense of humor and spirit is something I remember vividly, and know he continued to pass along to his patients. I am sad to not have stayed in-touch. He was a great guy.
I am proud t hear of the acheivements he and many our fellow classmates have made (and are continuing to make...) I know that EVERY graduating class may think, or say, that there class is/was "special", but in our maturing age, and continued years of experiencing life, I hope that all reading this will truley realize that the class of '92' has, and HAD, some amazing people that have acheived so much. I think of us as a dynasty year or one of 'those batches' of fine wine that come very seldom or maybe never again. Jason K. is/was a contribution to who we are and what we were. Jason Kurtz thank you my friend for making me laugh when we were young and stupid...okay I'm still stupid, but thank you for the times...And because of you, if I ever have a son and he ever thinks of quiting a sport because he truley sucks... I will stare him in his eyes and calmly explain, "Keep playing...chics dig the jerseys". God bless and rest in peace. See you on the "sidelines".
Joshua Dickinson
I hadn't heard that Jason had passed away until tonight. Jason was one of those guys that made coming to school fun. His energy and sense of humor were contagious. I am proud to see all of his great accomplishments even if he did push me as a skrawny freshman into cute senior girls as they were holding their boyfriends hands in the hallways and quickly walk the other way :) You will be missed and remembered well.
Emily Mann
Here is a nice article about his passing from the Flagstaff paper.
A story on NPR about cancer survivors featuring Jason.