SEARS, Jason Kemper
February 3, 2006 7:44 AM
Jason Sears, RKL frontman, Cito Rat, artist, storyteller, son, father, brother, and all around legend, died in a clinic in Mexico on January 31, 2006. At the time of his death he was undergoing medical treatment for his long term medical problems. He struggled for as long as any of us can remember, and in the end, the demons that kept him from fully engaging in this life took him. Jason died in his sleep.
Jason was born at Cottage Hospital on January 23, 1968. His accomplishments and achievements were enormous, although they are not the type measured by traditional mainstream society. He didn't graduate college. He didn't belong to any club, church or society. And yet, he touched literally thousands of people, influenced a generation of musicians and enjoyed the kind of personal prestige usually reserved for only the very wealthy and very powerful. His death has brought sadness to family and friends literally around the world.
Jason was a born leader. Whatever he attempted, he mastered. At age 14 he was the 4th ranked surfer in the country in his age group. He was a member of the first Barfoot snowboarding team. With the help of his dad, he built the Cito ramp in his backyard on Featherhill, and he and the other skaters took the sport of skateboarding to another level. He and a few friends dreamed up RKL and worked at it continuously for two decades reaping the benefits and suffering the setbacks associated with the music industry. Go into any independent record store in the country, and you'll find RKL. Mention Jason's name to any punk rocker, and the reaction will be a big smile and wide eyes. Jason was indeed a true legend.
Jason is survived by his mom Suzanne Sears, his dad and stepmother, Jack Sears and Emilie McMinn, his children Anthony, Sierra and Cisco, his siblings Steve Wright(Lori), Stacey Wright, Tracy Van Wormer (Trent) and Seana Alderman(Brian). We will have a memorial and celebration of Jason's life in the near future. For now, we let him rest in peace.