Jettero Michael "Jet" Klock

1997 - 2023

Jettero "Jet" Michael Klock surrendered his body to peace from this earthly plane on Friday, September 22, 2023 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District in Eugene, Oregon after several years of surviving unsheltered on the streets of Portland while he grappled with the cruelty of addiction, mental health disabilities, and structural barriers. Jet died of heart failure at age 25.

Born in Ithaca, New York, Jet's first word was "Earth." He primarily grew up in Richford, New York, on a dirt road surrounded by the nature and beauty of the land where his father's maternal family had put down roots a century ago as farmers.

Jet was a curious, brilliant, socially magnificent kid who struggled with the structures of school, but found deep friendship and connection in the people he met there. Some of his best times were with his friends from Stone Circle School, Belle Sherman Elementary School, the Ithaca homeschooling community, and the various middle schools and high schools he attended, where he left many teachers and administrators frustrated with his defiance. He proudly earned his G.E.D. in March of 2016, ironically graduating before most of his peers. Jet did everything in his own time.

Though his parents separated when Jet was nine, he was blessed with an extended family and community that included the Ribeiro family, the Gleason-Zorn family, the Kops family, Ellis Hollow Boy Scout Troop 55, the Lloyd family, and pretty much everyone he met. Of particular importance to Jet was his spiritual family of Ithaca elders, who welcomed Jet to participate in their circles and celebrations.

He loved exploring Ithaca's creeks and was a natural and gifted orienteer. Jet loved baking cookies and cooking soup. He loved eagles and crystals and gentle people and dancing. He often had a hard time with his own conflicts, but was an empathetic and intuitive mediator for others.

Jet seemed to exist simultaneously in multiple dimensions. His thoughts were often philosophical, his dreams lofty. As Jet grew into adolescence, he became less and less grounded on this earth. His lengthy and frightening bouts of psychosis were sometimes attributed to drug use, and sometimes to schizoaffective disorder.

During his time living on the street in Portland, he cultivated a community and family, who did their best to look out for Jet. He won the hearts of social workers, baristas, bartenders, and detox nurses. He made many lasting friendships while cooking at the Occupy ICE protests. The last several years were also destructive, to Jet and to the people who love him. No one could save Jet, and he could not save himself.

We do not mourn the loss of addiction, manipulation, fear, and pain. May those all burn away so that all that remains of Jet is his sweet spirit. May it fly freely throughout the Universe and again find those who loved him their hearts.

Jet is survived by his mother, Danielle Klock, and their partners David Lloyd and Vince Masiello; his father, Fred Klock and his loving wife Aniiyah, and countless family members and friends who he called family. Jet is predeceased by his dear grandmother, Alice Klock, and his grandfather, Emil Roessler, and too many friends lost too soon to addiction and the cruelty of anti-homeless policies.

Friends are invited to gather in Jet's memory on October 14th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Foundation of Light on Turkey Hill Road in Ithaca, New York. His cremains will be buried in the stone labyrinth at his father's family land in a private ceremony. Gifts of crystals and stones to accompany Jet in the labyrith will be welcome at the Foundation of Light gathering.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Portland Street Medicine at portlandstreetmedicine.org or Western Regional Advocacy Project at wraphome.org