Andrew Taylor Kessel

Andrew Taylor Kessel passed away on March 23, 2024, in an accident while driving at Willow Springs International Raceway. Born on June 3, 1986, in Newton, Massachusetts, Andrew was a beloved member of the Kessel family, and will be dearly missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.

Andrew spent his high school, college, and law school years in and around Boston. After attending Wellesley High School, Andrew graduated from Northeastern University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Andrew went on to attend law school at Boston College, and graduated with his Juris Doctor in 2012. After law school, Andrew worked as an Associate attorney at Paul Hastings LLP in New York from 2012 to April 2017. He then moved to California, and worked at Gilead Sciences, in Foster City, as Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property Litigation from May 2017 until his passing.

Andrew made the most out of every moment of his life. To know Andrew was to know someone truly special. Andrew was always generous with his time, and always had a witty joke or a funny voice to put people at ease and make them smile, or more likely, laugh. Andrew was humble, kind, warm, loving, and was always up for an adventure. Andrew met the love of his life, Jamie Lucia, shortly after moving to New York City, and Andrew and Jamie went on to create a beautiful, loving, adventurous life together. Andrew and Jamie were married on October 10, 2015, in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. When Andrew wasn't racing, he was enjoying his time outdoors, hiking on one of his many favorite trails in the Bay Area, camping in the Revel campervan, or exploring a new city or country with his wife. In the winter, Andrew was most likely skiing with Jamie, whether in the Alps for the end of year holidays, or with friends and family in Utah, Colorado, or Lake Tahoe.

Andrew was passionate about driving. He was an experienced auto-cross driver, and participated in races all over the country, gathering trophies and new friends with every race. He also enjoyed practicing his skills on road courses, including his local tracks Laguna Seca and Sonoma, his new favorite Portimao in Portugal, which he got to experience with his best friend, Mark Dudek in the summer of 2023, and several other tracks throughout the United States. When he wasn't behind the wheel outside, he honed his craft on his racing simulator, getting lessons from professionals, and spending hours practicing remotely with his friends, so that he could be the best he could possibly be on the track. Andrew was an inspiration and mentor to many, both on and off the racetrack.

Andrew is survived by his wife, Jamie Lucia; his brother, Jason Kessel, his sister-in-law, Michele Kessel, and his nephew Aaron Kessel; his half sister, Sirra Nehiley-Kessel; his father, Robert Kessel; his maternal grandmother, Rachel Rooks; his paternal grandmother, Shirley Kessel; and his many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins in both the Kessel family and the Kostick family. Andrew was pre-deceased by his mother, Sharon Kessel (Kostick).

Andrew was buried on April 4 in a private ceremony at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, CA. Services were held at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, CA. A memorial service and celebration of Andrew's life will be held on Sunday, April 14, at 11:00 a.m., at Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Road, Wellesley, MA 02481. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony, also at Temple Beth Elohim.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Andrew's honor to Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Boston (jbbbs.org) or Brigham and Women's Hospital (Brighamandwomens.org).