Jake Ian Kestler, beloved son, brother, grandson, friend and hero to all who knew him, passed peacefully on Thursday, April 11, 2019 after a long battle with cancer. Jake was surrounded by his loving family.
Jake was born and raised in Livingston, New Jersey, a community that he loved and that embraced him. Jake survived a battle with Leukemia in 2012 after receiving a bone marrow transplant from his then 5 year old sister, Lily. Jake’s courage inspired the formation of Team Jake which raised more than $300,000 for rare cancer research.
Jake loved his family and friends more than anything. He loved adventures of all kinds and especially loved food and eating at different restaurants. Most of all, he loved life and lived it to the fullest despite battling two different cancers during his short life.
Jake’s parents will be forming a foundation in his honor called Trial Blazers for Kids which will raise money to fund innovative clinical trials for pediatric cancers.
Jake will be deeply missed by his loving family members, including his mother and father, Joshua and Gallite Kestler, his sister, Lily, his brother, Luke, his grandparents, Efraim and Lea Rajs, Judith and Marc Apirian and Dr. Anthony and Barbara Kestler.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 12, at 11:30am at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Rd., Livingston. Interment will be Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Islein, N.J.