Jad Omar Duwaik

Jad is missed everyday! I love that I can come here and witness how much he meant to so many people around the world. He was an amazing brother and my best friend. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write about your experience.

I met TJ (as he was known then) on September 10, 2001. It was my first day at a new job, where he was currently working soon after he had ended his stint in San Francisco. He showed me his piece published in the San Francisco Chronicle called "Diary of a Failure", outlining his story of his successes, troubles, and lessons learned in his entrepreneurial adventures in the pre and post dot-com boom and bust.

On September 11, 2001, the world changed. I lived in lower Manhattan, which...

Tonight, Jad is on my mind, and I am grateful for his example. I finally acted on something he inspired at UCLA.

Jad was remarkably well spoken, calm, thoughtful, and entertaining. He seemed to be able to talk to anyone, and to effortlessly steer the conversation into interesting places. It was never a dull or shallow conversation if he was part of it, but it always felt genuine--never pretentious, even if it was "deep." I commented on this one night, just complimenting him on his...

Jad was a very good friend of mine, once upon a long-lost time. I met him at UCLA when I joined the Shakespeare club. Funny to realize that was almost twenty years ago now. He was bright, sweet, intelligent, funny... and it's not a stretch to say that he changed my life in certain ways. He introduced me to my current career. But, more than that, he was someone I could always talk to. He always had interesting observations to offer, he paid close attention, and he somehow, consistently managed...

I'm not sure who posted this last entry. Your timing is perfect because I miss my son so much. I would like to hear more about you and Jad.

I knew Jad back when we both lived in San Francisco. He truly was a great guy. Very sorry to hear about his passing.

I met Jad during our time at UCLA in the early 90s. I remember him as bright, kind, generous, funny, vivacious young man and I think all of us are lessened by his passing.

Rest in peace, Jad.

Now comes the time that the guest book will be closing. As I read through the entries my heart, though still breaking, is warmed by the words that have been written about him by family and friends. Jad truly was a gift from God, not only for me and his dad, but to his sisters and brothers and all his extended family and friends. We have been the recipients of Jad's love, his encouragement and his genuine care for each of us. He has taken a part of each of our hearts but his spirit lives...

"Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow." Jad lived life to the fullest. He had so many wonderful journeys and accomplishments, but what amazes me the most about him was his ability to reach out and touch the lives of so many people. He will be dearly missed.