M. Jeremy N. Guerin

Jeremy Nicholas Guerin was born on Wednesday, February 13th 1974 in Montreal, Quebec. He was going to be what eventually was the middle child of 3, sandwiched between his older sister Nathalie and younger brother Daniel. From the beginning, Jeremy was an ideal infant as he apparently slept through much of his early years, and wasn't much of a hassle when awake. The young afro sporting toddler/child was a bright, promising and gifted person who showed intellectual as well as excellent social skills from very early on. These traits allowed for him to adapt to and develop lifelong relationships with neighborhood kids several years older than he. The two most important of these being Michel Payment and Javier Maglioco. The trio was later to be known as "Les Bobs".

Jeremy's academic journey began at the nearest possible place, Lamenais elementary school which was right at the corner of the street where our family flat was. There, he was to perform well above average and was a very well behaved student. Jeremy developed a fondness for reading and writing immediately and was reading adult literature by the age of 11 or 12. During these elementary years, Jeremy participated in a couple of local sporting teams including football and baseball and was also a choir boy for a brief stint...... A bright, honest, hard working and well liked young man was in the making.

ACT II: Young Adulthood

One might say that Jeremy became a man at the age of 13 as he entered Lucien Page High School. After all, he was acting like and doing things that those of 18 years of age were. Going to school, working part time and by this early age, was even starting to go out to dance clubs and bars as his best friends were already of legal age or close. Forcing Jeremy to sometimes actually go so far as to draw fake stubble on his face and make the use of fake IDs of course. However, despite the fact that these actions were seen as questionable and eventually developed such an independent and forceful character that led to an unfortunate rift with his mother and therefore had to move in with his father at the age of 16, he still maintained above average grades and won several talent shows as well as several honors. And to put the icing on the cake, by the time his graduating year came along he had become one of the most popular guys in school, had excellent grades, was well liked by the ladies and was finally crowned prom king!! From here, he would now be moving on to community college. He was accepted into the field of Liberal Arts (a program for more refined students) at Champlain regional college. Once again, Jeremy flourished during his time in college and was fine tuning his academic skills for University. It was during these years that he also developed his tightest relationship with his brother Daniel as they were now both working at the same job and Daniel was also old enough to begin to relate to the partying lifestyle that Jer was known to lead. At this point, Jeremy was a dashingly handsome and witty young man full of courage, curiosity and a passion for life and philosophy. In September of 1993, Jeremy started to attend Concordia University once again majoring in the Liberal Arts program for advanced students. There, he completed the 4 year program in order to graduate with honors in the spring of 1997.

It wouldn't take long before the wide eyed, ambitious and stunningly brave young man would immediately make an attempt to open his own resto/bar with a friend from University in Romania half way around the world just months after graduation, with no established credit and just a few thousand dollars to his name. This was to be Jeremy's first ever "major" life lesson. As one might imagine, Jeremy had absolutely zero experience as an entrepreneur, or as a manager, waiter, cook and the list goes on. Not to mention not knowing ANYTHING about European culture (besides what he read in books) let alone Romania itself. It only took about three weeks before the plan to be his "own man" would quickly wither away after several heated arguments with his business partner and the lack of proper funding for the project. This would only be the beginning however. For Jeremy was always one to find opportunity within shortcomings. It wasn't more than a few days and he would convince his brother to fly over to meet and then tour Europe "Just as the scholars of old use to do it" were his exact words I believe. This trip would be the first of many adventures the Guerin brothers would eventually undertake as the taste of the worlds wonderful little miracles is hard to wash out. Especially when you know you've only witnessed the tip of the iceberg. This is also were he picked up the surname "Gorko". A name not soon forgotten.... In fact he would eventually be known as "Mighty Gorko" !!

Unfortunately, the other adventures to which I refer to would only take place after Jeremy would endure a darker period during his twenties. For Jeremy was a man with an appetite for the extremes when it cam to alcohol and drugs. He was a man with an incredibly strong mind. This fact would contribute to his delusions of invincibility and immortality that are common in youth. For several years he lived with, worked and partied with his best childhood friend Michel Payment (known as Mike or "Bob"). Many great times were had at their run down old house in a lavish neighborhood of Montreal North next to the waterfront. Drugs and booze were his only interests during this sad and deconstructive period. So much so that an intervention by his younger brother occurred in the fall of 2001 leading to his recovery, change of employment and residence. Slowly, he starting to get back on the right side of the track and realized he needed an even bigger change of lifestyle in order to get of the "rut" he knew he was in. Having been seriously motivated by a friend of Daniel's, Andrew McLaughlin, who was teaching English in Japan. Jeremy was determined to follow suite. After just a couple of weeks of research. He had found himself a job in South Korea on the Island of Jeju known as the "Hawaii of Asia" at the Ding Ding Dang institute. The move would be life changing to say the least. Gorko had been born again!!

ACT III: A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD

Jeju-do as it is known, would be the place were Jeremy would redefine himself. He would regain his interests for the finer things in life like culture, education. Finding himself in a position of both instructor as well as partial guardian, allowed him to flourish his potential as both a teacher and as a man/dad. Moving to South Korea opened up a whole new world of fantastic opportunities and experiences which can't be justified with words alone. One of Jeremy's first friendships on the island was with Dave Szabo. This would be a friendship stronger than either of them had had previously.

AS WRITTEN IN THE JEJU WEEKLY 2009: 'LOSS OF A BIG MAN WITH A BIG HEART  On Dec. 10, long-time former member of Jeju’s foreign community Jeremy Guerin died in his home town of Montreal, Canada. Until March, Jeremy spent about seven years as an English teacher on Jeju, working first for a hagwan and then for EPIK. Fellow teacher and former Jeju resident Hugh McDonald provided this remembrance of his close friend.

On Dec. 10, in the early morning, Jeremy Guerin’s big heart gave out. He passed away in the arms of his younger brother, Danny, the person he cared about most in this world. Many in Jeju’s foreign community and further afield will remember Jeremy’s mournful cry of “Where’s my brother?” from the far end of the bar. Many only knew Jeremy as that big guy at the end of the bar.

But those who knew him well and loved him will remember much more. Despite being wildly uncouth at times, Jeremy was very much a gentleman who believed in respect and honor. He will be sadly missed by friends, family, colleague, and students. We will miss his toasts, his songs, his surprisingly graceful dance moves. We will miss his loud laugh and his louder shirts. We will miss his humor and his warmth. We will miss his enormous generosity and unwavering loyalty and his devotion to his comrades.

Make no mistake: Jeremy had his demons, as do we all. But the good in him far outshone any darkness within. So we will remember a man who always bought the first round, the last round and many in between. Let us remember a man who called everyone a friend until they gave him reason not to. Let us remember a man who loved his friends and family fiercely, and considered them one and the same.

Be at peace, my brother.

So long, dear friend.'

Disturb us (Oh Lord)

When we are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true because

We dreamed too little;

When we have arrived in safety because we sailed

Too close to shore.

Disturb us (Oh Lord)

When with the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst for the water of life;

When having fallen in love with time,

We have ceased to dream of eternity;

And in our efforts to build a new earth

Have allowed our vision of the new heaven

to grow dim.

Stir us (Oh Lord)

To dare more boldly,

To venture seas where storms shall show thy mastery,

Where losing sight of land

We shall find the stars...

Bienvinido Tudtud (1931-1987)