J.J. has been an incredible gift to the Newman Community and to Virginia Tech. He has enriched our community through his generosity and faith. We pray that God will take him to himself and that we might be consoled in the faith of the resurrected Lord Jesus.
→ Upcoming events to be held in memory of J.J.
→ Submit memories and gifts J.J. gave your life
→ Read some submitted memories of J.J.
→ A comforting note from J.J.
“God is light; in him there is no darkness. Let us walk in his light, his children, one and all.” -From “City of God,” a J.J. favorite
April 11 Prayer Service
On the evening of April 11, 2012, dozens gathered at the Newman house to mourn the loss of our great friend. An impromptu prayer service was held downstairs. The room was so filled with people that even the stairs leading to the main floor were packed, simply because there was no more room. Stories were shared of the great gifts that J.J. has bestowed into our lives, and how these gifts will live with us forever. The PDF from the prayer service is available here.
Please share how J.J. was a gift in your life in the form below.
J.J. and Newman Community
When we as a Newman Community learned about the untimely passing of John Benson “J.J.” Stinson , we shared feelings of shock and sadness. We quickly gathered and began to focus on and share what an incredible gift J.J. has been in all of our lives. Many gathered to grieve and remember J.J. as we held an impromptu Prayer Service. A central theme of the evening was J.J.‘s ability to bring people and communities together. Many commented about the diversity of those gathered in the room. It was a true “J.J. moment” that united many people from different walks of life.
As an active member of the Newman and Virginia Tech Community, J.J. brought light and life into all he did. “J.J. shined in sharing his God-given gifts and love with others; I especially remember J.J. for his music and his constant sense of wonder of the world, most especially others. He not only recognized the blessedness of others: he accentuated, highlighted, maximized, affirmed, and encouraged it. People who knew J.J., witnessed the living and loving God, active in their day-to-day life, because of J.J,” shared Dave Ballinyn who served as a Campus Minister and friend of J.J.
J.J.’s became involved in Newman early in his Freshman year. As he was keenly aware of other’s gifts, he was also self-aware of what he had to offer to the community. He was a member of the Newman Musicians, playing his guitar at mass each Sunday and sharing his gift of musical talent with others.
J.J. was also highly involved in service through the Newman Community, always sharing his gifts with others. J.J. put his faith into action through an Alternative Spring Break Trip to Lima, Ohio as well as many local service activities. John Wall shared, “Even amidst our service and labor, J.J. was a central light in so much of what we did. He was a glimpse of the true height of love, compassion, and joy we can offer this world.”
A comforting note from J.J.
Kara Olenick, a friend and a fellow active member of the Newman Community, shared this the day after we learned of J.J.’s passing:
“J.J. wrote this to me just before he left for Riva because I was so mad at him for leaving me. Your words were always more perfect than you knew, friend.”
It’s a simple tune
That God taught to me and you:
We never go away,
We never say goodbye.
We always stay in touch,
Even when we die.
To put it in perspective,
This is just the new adventure.
Be at peace, and please
Always be rest assured:
This is not the end,
Though I am leaving now,
There is always life!
What is lost will be found!
J.J.
Events to be held in memory of J.J.
Tuesday, April 17, 6PM in the War Memorial Chapel
Join the Newman Community as we gather for a Memorial Service for J.J. in the place where he worshiped every Sunday.
Sunday, April 15, 7:30 PM, Rosary for J.J. at the Pylons
The Knights of Columbus will be dedicating this weeks Sunday rosary for
JJ and the intentions of those who knew and loved him. Rosary starts at 7:30pm on Sunday at the Pylons.
Friday, April 13, 5:30PM in the Hillcrest Dining Room
The entire University community has been invited to gather together to remember, reflect, and share about J.J. Professional staff from Housing & Residence Life and Cook Counseling Center will be on site as a resource.
Thursday, April 12, 8PM at the Pylons
Join the Bishop Ireton High School Alumni as they gather to remember and pray for J.J., his family, and all affected.
J.J., I should have told you how much I’m thankful for your kindness and generosity ever since the first time I met you at the choir…
You’ll be greatly missed by everyone.
+…Rest in peace…+
I had met J.J. a couple times and even did some service trips with him but we never knew we were Hayfield neighbors until last year. When he found out, he was so excited that we had another connection besides Newman. His positivity and excitement was infectious and you could see it in anyone with whom he interacted. One time he introduced me to one of his friends from Bishop Ireton and spoke about me as if we had known each other for years. He was truly a blessing in everyone’s life and a real treasure to the Community of Newman, Virginia Tech, Riva San Vitale, and anyone who knew him.
J.J.’s happiness always lifted those around him. My prayers go to him, his family, friends, and to the Newman Community.
I had the great pleasure of meeting JJ for the first time just last week in Switzerland when I was visiting my daughter who is studying there with him. He was indeed a wonderful young man who loved God and loved challenging his classmates to stretch beyond the comfort zone. I am honored to have had a few days to share with him. I pray for comfort for his family and friends both in Switzerland, Blacksburg and at home. RIP JJ. God will take good care of you.
Our family has known JJ for most of his life. We especially remember his intelligence, joy, and kindness. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are especially with his family at this time.
J.J. understood what it meant to live life with passion, zeal, and love. He was untiring in his pursuit of truth, and his questions, spoken with gentleness and consideration, reached new places in my own mind and heart.
J.J. shined in sharing his God-given gifts and love with others; I especially remember J.J. for his music: his singing, guitar-playing, and desire to teach me how to play. I especially remember J.J. for his constant sense of wonder of the world, most especially others. He not only recognized the blessedness of others: he accentuated, highlighted, maximized, affirmed, and encouraged it. People who knew J.J., and I am blessed to count myself in that group, witnessed the living and loving God, active in their day-to-day life, because of J.J.
St. Francis de Sales, the patron whose spirituality J.J. and I hold in common with one another, is proud to know him.
God bless you and hold you, J.J.
I first met J.J. the day before school started this past year at the Newman Catholic Church Picnic. He was the first person to come over and introduce himself to me and joked about his gray hair. I remember him always trying to remember my name along with all the new freshman. He would keep repeating all our names until he got them all. One day when I was leaving my dorm, he shouted my name across the street just to say hi!
He was always so friendly and cheerful and made sure to include everybody and make those of us new to Newman feel welcome.
He will be loved and missed greatly! Rest in peace J.J.
That service last night was one of the
Most beautiful experiences of my life. J.j. Was inspired by God to be such a good person. I wish I told you how
Much I cared about you, like you said you appreciated that about
Me in your letter. I’ll never ever forget you, and I will try to lead a better life inspired by you. Love carolyn
When I first heard the news my heart sank as I knew JJ very well and he was one that I have gotten the chance to know over the last year and a half. I vividly remember his invitation to gather and talk about community at the Newman Center with Father Joe and other men in his life. There was something really special about him- how he was alway positive and had a great outlook on life. He is in a better place now- Rest In Peace- Damian
J.J., you were every professor’s dream. You were bright, dedicated, curious. You asked questions I had to think about before I could answer. And you could make my day better just by dropping by to say hello. I spent this semester eagerly awaiting your return. You were in the room when I felt the twins move for the first time and you were the first student to get to hold Bettie and Marie, just a year ago this week. I’m going to miss you terribly. I’m a better teacher for having known you and my world is a poorer place for your absence.
My life was enriched by knowing J.J., who was a leader and an inspiration to others. As an Eagle Scout, he was a role model for the younger Scouts. His Eagle project, which provided quilts for premature infants, was an example of his love for his fellow man, however small and frail. He touched many lives and we all are better for having known him.
[...] As Virginia Tech mourns the loss of J.J. Stinson, the community is welcome to the following events to remember and reflect. Memories can also shared at the Newman Community website. [...]
I remember when he ran for student council president back in elementary school and won. His speech was fun and end enjoyable to listen to. He was a great person. RIP, we love you JJ!
One of the first people I met and had the privilege of knowing. I always enjoyed coming to Renew and hearing your updates about your past week. I miss ya buddy. We all miss ya! RIP and Ill see u in paradise soon brother
I had two classes with J. J. Stinson: one in which we were colleagues learning together, and one in which he was a student and I a TA—though not fortunate enough to be his TA. In both classes, J. J. blew my mind. Not only was he brilliant, he was “well brought up”: a gentleman in every sense of the word, always gentle and humble in his criticism, charitable in his questions, cheerful and genuine in his exchanges with others. And not only was he well brought up, he was brilliant: the kind of critical thinker one rarely sees anymore, a creative thinker, an acutely perceptive student who drew out the deepest assumptions and furthest implications of the most complex ideas.
I should feel bad for thinking, “Why couldn’t it have been someone else? Someone less promising?” Right? I know I should. Every life has value. Many lives have value we can’t even imagine. I do feel bad about it, but not nearly so bad as I felt for the world upon reading the name of the young man it just lost.
“Him?”
J. J. had potential I had never seen among his cohort before, and which I have yet to see since. I have seen plenty of brilliant students, but none so brilliant as him. I’ve seen plenty of good souls, but none so good as his. The two things together is the rarest blessing I’ve ever seen. Before I met him, I had lost faith in his generation—he restored it. So when I think of him lying lifeless somewhere in Switzerland, I can’t help but wonder why someone else couldn’t have taken his place, someone with less intellectual and moral greatness, someone with less character, someone with less light to gift to the world.
We don’t yet know how he passed. But I can’t fathom that anyone who met him, or even just laid eyes on his kind face, could ever do him harm. So I just hope that he passed peacefully, and that those of us who experienced the living hope that he was for the world would always carry something of his goodness with us, to pass along to others. Without him, the world will be in sore need of it.
To the parents of J.J.,
I’m a mom from the St. Louis mother’s group and I just heard about your son’s passing from a prayer request sent out by Kathy McCabe. While I did not know him, I did read the postings and stories about him. You must be so proud of him and what’s he’s accomplished, both spiritually and intellectually, in his 20 years of life that was tragically cut so short. As a mother of four children ages 7, 5, 3 and 1; I can only imagine what you must be going through. We expect our children to live long lives and to outlive us, for sure, and this news is just unthinkable! This week is the week of promises from Jesus from the Divine Mercy novena. I hope that all of us can finish this novena in memory of your son: http://www.conyers.org/w_merciful.aspx
Maybe God’s plan for him was to bring many, many souls to Christ through his Christ-like love for others? He sounds like he was a very, very special young man. I know you must be so proud of him!!!
The novena started on Good Friday (last week) and ends this Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday. Here are the promises:
For each day of the nine day novena, Jesus asks:
4/6/12 First Day: Today bring to Me all Mankind, especially all sinners.
4/7/12 Second Day: Today bring to Me the souls of priests and religious.
4/8/12 Third Day: Today bring to Me all devout and faithful souls.
4/9/12 Fourth Day: Today bring to Me the pagans and those who do not yet know Me.
4/10/12 Fifth Day: Today bring to Me the souls of heretics and schismatics.
4/11/12 Sixth Day: Today bring to Me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children.
4/12/12 Seventh Day: Today bring to Me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My mercy.
4/13/12 Eight Day: Today bring to Me the souls who are in the prison of Purgatory.
4/14/12 Ninth Day: Today bring to Me the souls who have become lukewarm.
God bless you all. You will be in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Angela K.
as a parent of a vt student i will say a prayer for him and his family god bless
I never knew JJ. Never heard of him until I learned the news of his death this morning in the paper. As a father of a fellow Hokie, my heart goes out to all his friends and the VT community – especially this weekend – but most especially to his family. I can’t imagine what you are feeling now, but the words of love on this page are evidence of a good man who was well raised, and I know you can be proud of that. God bless all of you at VT. And JJ, I hope to meet you some day.