Jake Paolo Molaro

Jake Paolo Molaro was born in Milan, Italy on October 22, 1995 and died in Vancouver, Washington on July 16, 2025.

Jake moved to Portland, Oregon with his parents shortly after his fourth birthday. When he arrived in the US, he understood English, but did not speak it. He kept his Italian fluent by spending every summer in Alassio, Liguria with his grandparents and uncles.

Jake grew up in Northeast Portland and attended Hollyrood and Laurelhurst Elementary Schools, Sunnyside Environmental Middle School, Grant High School, and Portland Community College.

Jake was a voracious reader his entire life with vast and varied interests. You could ask him about almost any subject and he not only knew the answer but also the most fascinating facts and tidbits, which he would regale you with in the most interesting and well-organized way, completely off the cuff. He was a fabulous storyteller, and he used those skills and his many, many ideas to pursue his interests in writing stories and screenplays, making short films, and creating podcasts and, most recently, an original role-playing game with an intricate universe and a large and detailed cast of characters.

Jake was always the tallest person in his class and he had a big personality to go with his big presence. He had a very unique sense of style and always had just the right jewelry to go with all his looks.

Jake was kind-hearted and always saw the best in everyone. He was gentle and sweet and always looked out for the underdog. He had an exceptional sense of humor – dry, subtle, wry, and irreverent. He had the most beautiful hair, thick, wavy, and the very darkest brown.

Jake was the love and the light of our lives and his loss leaves a cavernous hole that can never be filled.

Jake is survived by his parents, Davide Molaro and Tamara King; by his grandparents, Veraldo Molaro, Enrica Viganó, and Sylvia Londean; by his uncles, Daniele Molaro, Francesco Molaro, and Michael Bates; by his aunt, Emanuela Centofanti; by his cousin, Leonardo Molaro; by his Italian and American great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins, including his special Great Aunt Dee Dee; and by his beloved cat, Horus.

If you'd like to make a donation in Jake's memory, he was a fan and supporter of Open Signal Community Media Center (https://community.opensignalpdx.org/donate).