Jack Stalker was funny, kind, thoughtful – and sometimes a little bit “naughty” said his mother, Traci Campion, but he was also a hero.
Tragically, Jack died just three days after his 19th birthday in a car accident in 2016, and his decision to become a donor left an amazing legacy. Jack’s gift of tissue donation has helped over 300 people through more than 420 grafts across 27 states and two countries. His heart valves were transplanted in 2017 to a 3.5-year-old in Michigan.
Traci Campion, Jack’s mother, is incredibly proud of her son’s decision. “My goal was always for him to learn how to give in life, to do the right thing,” and through tissue donation, Jack was able to do exactly that.
That thoughtfulness was apparent during Jack’s high school career. He attended High Marq Environmental Charter School, where he showed strong leadership skills and was able to flourish in hands-on, project-based learning. He always helped everyone at school no matter what mood he was in. If someone was down, Jack put their emotions first and would get them to smile again. He would also happily volunteer to babysit during school PTO meetings for the parents, known as a “kid whisperer.” Traci said they were part of one big family, and Jack truly felt that too.
He was close to his mother and adored his little sister Grace and enjoyed spending time with his family. He loved fishing, hunting, and being out in nature, as well as playing video games, bonfires, and making things with his own two hands. He had just started a career in carpentry with his step-dad, Patrick Campion, of Campion Construction in Montello, WI.
Being such a confidant for others left a lasting impact, and his friends continue to stop by to visit the family. Traci said over 400 people attended the funeral, and she requested that they applaud him, so “he did not leave the world in somber silence.” He deserved to be sent on with the same resonance he held in life. Traci is constantly amazed at how much Jack truly did to help others.
For the past four years, the family has held a memorial golf outing at the School House Tavern in Westfield, WI, and donated the proceeds back to American Tissue Services Foundation. Traci is thankful to ATSF for what they are able to provide. “When you are at the lowest of lows and don’t even know how you’re going to live past the moment, [ATSF is] fantastic.” She said she felt that Jack was truly being cared for and treated as a hero
Traci also has a garden full of blues and teals – Jack’s favorite colors – where she has been able to find a lot of healing. She said it’s so important to have “a space,” so she never forgets to tell Jack’s story.
She truly believes she will see her son again, and that “it has come full circle. Jack helped pass it forward, and it’s helpful to know that a person has lived on by helping others. It was the great thing Jack did, at the end, to think beyond himself.”