Jason A. Koziatek, died early Thursday morning, November 30, 2006 in New Paltz. Known to many as "J-Bone", Jason was born in New Brunswick, N.J. on April 17, 1972.

Although Jason had many careers, including working on stage crews, roofing, and steel working among others, his true calling was helping others in the constant pursuit of justice and social equality. He was a champion of the underdogs of the world, a brother to all, preoccupied at all times with being of service, creating unity, and protecting the vulnerable. One of his successes was to help revive the Anti-Racist Association in New Paltz, and to work tirelessly to transform the influx of bigotry into the town.

Jason is predeceased by his father, Ronald Koziatek; and also by his loving grandparents, Rose and Allen Hughes.

He is survived by his children, Nikolai Peone and Xavier Crowchild; his mother, Lanette Hughes; his brother, Jordan Falzano; and countless close and dear friends who were all part of the endless ragamuffin patchwork of Jason's unofficial family.

Never very concerned with the trappings of everyday life, Jason traveled often, always a dog at his heels, always heading toward a place where his fist and only mission would be to find the fragments in the underground community and attempt to repair them. He owned little, but what he had he would give away without even being asked. A profoundly compassionate man, Jason felt more deeply than was beneficial for him, and those who loved him were strapped in for an intense rollercoaster journey that was his signature.

Most will remember Jason's eyes, the bluest blue imaginable, watching us with admiration, or at times with scorn, as we fulfilled or did not fulfill his wishes for us. He pierced us with his words, tattooed us with his love, leaving us always altered, never ever the same creature after any of his many departures.