Jamie Solomon Narkunski

Jamie Narkunski, 35, died January 26 2020, and a brilliant light, a compass, has gone from this world. Jamie is the fiercely loving husband of Natalie; the darling son of Hannah; brother of Mark; nephew of Abe and Rosette; uncle of Samuel; loved cousin, son-and-brother-in-law; steadfast friend and colleague of many from the east coast to the west, and numerous countries across the world.

Jamie ardently loved life and lived with thoughtful determination, always seeking opportunity for growth with space for abundance in his heart. Jamie changed jobs so frequently in this pursuit that it made Natalie dizzy, but he is her person and an exceptional person whose encouragement makes you want to be better. Jamie was ever impressive, more awesomely so because he didn’t believe in succeeding alone, but wanted everyone around him to thrive. Through challenges and anxieties, Jamie found a quiet confidence, and he always showed up with his best self, was always present and funny, always curious, honest and true, and furiously loving.

Jamie started life never far from the ocean and beaches of South Jersey. In his formative years he attended Hebrew Academy, played hockey, rowed on the crew team in high school, and he played guitar. When Jamie met Natalie in a printmaking class at Stockton University, he was the singer and guitarist in one of several bands he would form or join in young adulthood, writing post -punk -hardcore songs. Grandson of Holocaust survivors Riva and Samuel, and son of a specialneeds school teacher, Jamie learned the value of life and people.

Over a few short years he had many roles and honed a skillbase built on his penchant for problemsolving, for learning about people and designing for them. His anxious, driven mind was insatiable, and this kid with an arts management and history degree would become a director in user experience, design and strategy in his early thirties. His achievements were built on unwavering tenacity, a light-hearted disposition, authentic empathy, thoughtfulness, and focus on the essential.

Jamie and Natalie, their “captive friends” Harold and Jean in tow, fled across the country, where they kept a second room just for family and friends to visit, though some were apprehensive due to their consistently incalculable cat, Jean. Jamie would comment on the burdensome responsibility of pets, but he was the one at two in the morning having Jean tattooed on his arm and often found hugging their dog Harold in bed. In California, their already established love for rock climbing and a developing enthusiasm for mountain biking took on a greater role in their lives. They found fun and peace in a commitment to adventure, being outdoors, and pushing their limits. It helped them make more space for growth and in that time Jamie started to hone in on what could be the purpose in his life’s work.

With joyful mischievousness he was always the puckish prankster. He relished recalling that as a loving son in boyhood, he hid beneath Hennie’s bed waiting for her to get up in the morning so he could grab her ankles. In the first year of dating he called Natalie over in urgency saying he’d fallen and to come but not to panic. When she arrived seeing him sitting on the kitchen floor, leg covered in a catsup concoction, she was mid-faint when he sprung to his feet. She doesn’t recall whether it was before this or after, when driving to see him in those early days, a feeling took a seat in her heart and she knew he was the one.

Natalie rescued Jamie’s discarded scribblings, and framed his provocative watercolors he was too embarrassed to be displayed and so he hid them away. Jamie sketched conversations he overheard on flights, explored irreverent greeting card designs, improvised unflattering yet abstractly uncanny resemblances of Natalie, and imparted a joyful pride for his rendering of a wild witch wearing knee pads. Though he never compared himself to others, other than his perfect calves, this one time he saw a girl on the sidewalk wearing the same knit beanie as him and he professed that he looked better in it so he sketched her too, for proof. While working from home, actively listening on conference lines and providing feedback, he would playfully devise papercraft sculptures in miniature and draw pensive creatures pondering life’s purpose.

Jamie was the Sr Director of Strategy and Enablement at The Ultimate Software Group where he guided work and teams across the world. His colleagues share that he made them feel valued, supported, empowered, and inspired. He would read books on designing for all, how different cultures communicate, and he was excited to bring that to his teams to inform their work. The company has devoted an internal award in his name, The Jamie Narkunski Innovation Award.

On the last morning Jamie was with us he was giving to the last minute, to friends he wanted to support in propelling them forward, and to his wife on her birthday. While driving to a climbing destination, Jamie, Natalie, and Harold were blindsided by a drunk driver. Natalie survived her injuries while Jamie and Harold were taken from this world by selfish actions, a person Jamie’s opposite in character. Jamie leaves a great unfillable void. He is and will always be dearly missed.

Jamie and Natalie sought meaningful purpose in the everyday and wanted to give back, volunteering their time, donating to support human, environmental, and wildlife causes. They loved art and supporting artists, building their own small art collection from artists they knew or met. Jamie supported Natalie in her ecological pursuits by joining her in volunteer stewardship events. Jamie was gathering his building blocks for a strong foundation so that he could create something to serve people. Though he may never have really known his impact, he contributed immeasurably to those around him. Jamie did not have the chance to experience all he dreamed of, to give all he intended and consciously worked towards contributing in this life. Maybe you can extend some of that love and energy for Jamie, for yourself, for all.

Jamie would urge you to seek opportunities which speak to you. Think of Jamie and how he lived thoughtfully giving his ear, his feedback, and support, seeing opportunities to give of himself in the everyday. And please remember to embrace life with room for abundance in your heart, make space for curiosity and choose adventure because it’s all in the journey.