Joseph Alexander "Alex" Kossan

Joseph Alexander Kossan,born June 25th 1997 and died at the age of 26 on Friday, July 21, 2023 after an accidental overdose. The truth is Alex Kossan was smart, funny and kind. He loved nature, hiking, rock climbing, and was both a boy scout and a camper and counselor at Shiloh Quaker Camp. He loved math, physics, art, and architecture. Alex graduated from Freeman High School in 2015. He also worked construction, took classes at Reynolds, became a member of IBE66 where he was working as an electrical apprentice. And, he struggled half of his 26 years with mental illness and the past 10 years with addiction. Thanks to The Healing Place and CARITAS Works, Alex had over five years of recovery in which he dedicated himself to keeping others clean and sober. Alex was preceded in death by his father, Joseph C. Kossan; and his paternal grandparents, Joseph E. and Madelyn Kossan. Alex leaves behind his mother, Brooke Davis; the little brother he adored, Andrew Kossan; girlfriend, Abby Robinson; his stepfather, Nick Martina; grandparents, Susanne Sturges, Ed Davis and Dianne Davis; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and friends. It seems like he knew hundreds of people in the recovery community based on their outpouring of support. A memorial celebration for Alex will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Godwin High School, 2101 Pump Road, Henrico, Va. 23238. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, The Healing Place, https:// www.caritasva.org/ or BYM Camps, https:// bymcamps.org/. This would be a lovely gesture. To the parents out there, tell your kids you love them every day. You will never regret it and I know Alex knew I loved him because I did, every day, even when he was a mess. To anyone struggling with mental health or substance abuse disorder, there is help. Please seek it so your family doesn’t have to try to figure out how to keep living without you. You are worth every meeting, every counseling session and every medical intervention possible. You matter. Don’t give up!