TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Farewell to an old and dear friend

With great sorrow, I pass along that Jason Helmbrecht passed away last night. Jason was diagnosed last February with glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer. He did every treatment possible, but the disease progresses rapidly and cannot be beat. Jason was 52 years old.

He has been a close personal friend of mine for many years, and was a reliable and accurate source of information here.

I know that we will all miss him.

Fair winds, Jason

I am so sorry for your loss. Although I never met him, his presence on this site was large and very helpful.
Prayers for his family and friends who will feel his absence in this world but can keep his memory close in their hearts.

My condolences, My wife lost both her sisters to the same cancer and my daughter lost her husband. Sadly there are limited and ineffective treatments available as the vast majority of cancer research money goes to lung and breast cancer.
Jason was a great contributor to this and I suspect other forums. He will be missed.

This makes me very sad. I remember how helpful he was to me and others guiding us through all the pandemic travel requirements. Always ready to share his knowledge and give useful advice. So community minded. I wish the world had more of him and I wish he could still be with us.

Very sorry to hear. He was incredibly helpful for me and my crew for many trips and a great and gracious advocate of the islands and especially the people of the islands. CGB had lost a member of their Hall of Fame.

I knew he had brain cancer and was hoping it wasnt Glio...

Fair winds my friend

Wow. Sorry to hear that. I didn't know him personally, but as others here have said, he was very generous with his time and information here, and I'm sure elsewhere. Fair winds.. Condolences to his friends and family.

Oh my goodness. I am so very sorry to hear this. Jason was such a kind and helpful resource to so many. Our condolences to his family and dear friends. I will pass by CGB this week and raise a toast to Jason.

Very sorry to hear this. I met him and his wife in CGB a few years ago. He was a very nice man. Condolences to his family and friends.

Jason and Tiffany

So sad for everyone who knew him. He was a great guy. My heart is with Tiffany right now. Xoxoxoxoo

Oh this is is just devastating, what a super guy....just a heartbreaking loss in this world. My condolences to all here who are close to Jason and Tiffany, sending tons of hugs and love

So sad. Jason, along with Tiffany, was a wonderful and valuable part of the BVI community. His passing is a big loss.

Yes that is terrible news…We had not yet met Jason and were looking forward to seeing him next visit and thanking him for all his help to us. A very generous gentleman who Iwe know will be missed greatly…

Oh man! This is such sad news. He was the unofficial mayor of this forum. Now I know why he had gone silent on TTOL for these past many months. I loved his clear and concise writing style and impeccable grammar (so uncommon these days). I kidded him once about a rare grammatical mistake. I must have caught him on a bad day bc he didn't appreciate it. I apologized and we made up, but I still feel bad about it. He had an uncanny way of being almost terse, but in a friendly way....not mean or condescending. Always helpful, always generous with his time, and always right on with the information he shared. I wish I had good fortune of meeting him in person. He will be missed by many. My sincere condolences to Tiffany and the rest of his family.

I am heartbroken,though, like others who were close to Jason and Tiff we knew this day would come. Many of us have lost a close friend...forums like this and travellers to the BVI's have lost a caring, helpful expert . I hope there will be some kind of ceremony on Jason's beloved CGB...and Anegada. Jason would like that I'm sure..and hopefully it would be good for Tiff to be surrounded by BVI Love. A very special person is now riding those warm trades...One Love Jason and Tiffany..

Great loss for those who knew him. Tiffany and Jason were living their dream and faced many obstacles with class. Godspeed Jason.

Amen to all of that. Like many others of you who didn't know Jason personally, I emphatically echo all who have benefited from his insights in the forum.

Forever grateful for his endless knowledge and willingness to help others throughout the years. He has helped so many in so many ways, especially post-covid when nobody had any idea how to navigate a return!
Fair Winds and Following seas.......

So sad to read of Jason's passing. Another good soul gone too soon and the reason I firmly believe we need to live life to the fullest while we can!

If I ever needed some guidance through the chaos that surrounded getting to the BVI during Covid, I could always count on Jason. I had hoped to one day buy him a beer when in CGB.

Very sad and prayers for him and his family.

He helped us so much with that as well

Pouring one out for Jason.

I am absolutely heartbroken. I was never fortunate enough to meet Jason in person. But between this board and multiple DM's he was very helpful navigating the ever changing covid days. I chatted with him shortly after he was diagnosed. We both knew this day was inevitable. Rest in peace Jason.

Unofficial mayor of this board is a perfect description.

Ahoy Captains,

He is a Hero for all the Information and Integrity the He was able to Share.
I hope a Beacon of Character for TTOL into the Future.

Brent, from thecaptainscompass.com

So sorry to hear and my thoughts and prayers are with Jason's family and friends. Always knew you were getting the best insight when it was from him. I will also offer a toast and a pour to Jason in CGB next month.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jason's loved ones. I was reviewing the many conversations Jason and I had over the years about the BVI. A very helpful guy who will be much missed.

Sincere condolences to Jason's family and friends. He was definitely one of the good ones - his presence will be missed.

I was looking for some guidance w/r to some business dealings I had in RT a couple years back. I have never met Jason in person, but he PM'd me and we went back and forth. He so thorough and concise, he could not have held my hand and literally walked me through the process any better. This, for someone he had never met, nor had anything really to gain. Fair Winds Jason, I will always remember.

Over many years and charters, enjoyed and valued Jason's insights and kindness.
Condolences to his family. We have lost a great man.

duckfat--I don't know whether Tiffany is on TTOL or not, but at some point, it would be lovely if you called her attention to this thread or printed it out for her to keep.

I never met Jason, nor did I even communicate with him directly on TTOL. But I always took note of his helpful and friendly posts. Thanks Jason -- I'll miss you.

The world is a poorer place today.

Dan

Knowing his diagnosis, I knew this day would come sooner rather than later. Glioblastoma has taken several of my friends way too early.

My wife and I met Jason and Tiffany in person at CGB not long before his diagnosis.

Jason was always so helpful to first time as well as more veteran BVI visitors. He will be missed.

I pray Tiffany feels the love and virtual hugs from so many here on TTOL, as well as those who are physically in her presence.

RIP, Jason.

Thank you for posting this. Jason’s was a life well lived.

We are all the better for having known him..

So sad

There are some great people on this forum, and Jason was a shining example of the giving nature that makes this group special. My hope is that we will all remember his example in the years ahead when sharing our perspectives, knowledge, etc. I can’t think of a better way to honor him, Nick, and others who gave of themselves for the betterment of others.

I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Such a wonderful person. He was such a help to me planning my trip just post Covid. I am extremely grateful I was able to meet Jason and Tiffany and treat him to a thank you for your help cocktail. Was a great happy hour. He will be very missed here and in CGB. May he rest in peace.

After all the years exchanging posts, I never realized Jason was from New Albany, Ohio,, just 5 miles from me. If there’s a celebration of his life service in town, I’ll be there. Rest in Peace.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/gahanna-oh/jason-helmbrecht-11128030 ......so very kind of them to choose the BVI Humane Society for memorial donations ... also there are some really nice pics just posted here http://bvipirate.com/Jason/