Eugene Neil Fachon

1996 - 2017

Eugene "Neil" Fachon, a student & philosopher, who was born May 8, 1996, passed away on Feb. 19, 2017.
A chess champion, soccer player and tennis player, Neil attended East Greenwich High School and graduated in 2014. The following year he attended Northeastern University's College of Engineering. Neil was a member of "SLTP", the Student Leadership Training Program he participated in for several years, as well as an avid advocate for the "Jester and Pharley Phund," a program to spread joy and good cheer to children battling deadly disease. Neil was very fond of reading "The Jester Lost His Jingle" to children.
In March of last year, Neil was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, "DIPG." Given a dire prognosis, Neil elected to participate in a clinical trial which helped extend his life by several months more than the experts at Mass General and DANA Farber predicted was likely. Neil's story made national news when he fought in court for his right to maintain treatment in the wake of the FDA's attempt to shut down the trial retroactively. Neil's lawyer won the battle, but it came at great cost to the momentum of Neil's treatment, as well as heaping unimaginable stress on a young man already fighting the Fight of his life. Neil soldiered on nonetheless, ever optimistic, humorous and full of Love for Life, Family, Friends and our shared World.
While being treated for his own disease, Neil delivered several "The Jester Lost His Jingle" books to children being treated at the Burzynski Clinic. Neil was all about helping others and finding silver linings. He will be sorely missed, but his story will be told in hopes of clearing a smoother path for those caught in similar predicaments.
Neil leaves behind his mother and father: Wendy & Dean Fachon; sister: Evie; paternal grandfather: Eugene Fachon; maternal grandmother: Ellie Nadherny and several aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as friends all over the world. He was welcomed into his eternal home by his grandparents Carolyn Fachon and Ferdinand Nadherny. His spirit will endure.
Neil's life will be celebrated at calling hours on Friday, March 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick and during a memorial service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 99 Peirce Street, East Greenwich on Saturday, March 11 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations made to: The Jester & Pharley Phund, P.O. Box 817, Palo Verdes Estates, CA 90274 (www.thejester.org) and/or to: Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Road, Casco, ME  04015 (www.campsunshine.org). Both of these organizations bring joy to children with life threatening illnesses. Condolences may be offered and remembrances shared online at carpenterjenks.com.