Jordan Herrick, a junior at Tigard High School, passed away Nov. 18, 2018, due to complications in open heart surgery. Herrick was born on Jun. 27, 2002, and died at age 16. Her peers and teachers were shocked by the suddenness of her death.
A fellow junior at Tigard High School, Sarah Gentry, had one class with Herrick and knew there was something special about her. “She was really funny and never afraid to be herself. Her laugh was contagious, and she always had a way of brightening up the room,” Gentry said. Herrick wore a smile as if it was her slogan.
One of Herrick’s favorite things to do with her father was to watch the Portland Winterhawks from the penalty boxes. Her legacy of always smiling and gazing with excitement lives on. The Winterhawks commemorated Herrick by printing game tickets with her name on them, adding her name to one of their hockey sticks and sewing her name onto the back of a jersey.
Herrick’s impact extended beyond the ice arena and into her father’s office. Jeff Herrick’s work, David Evans and Associates, Inc., even organized a GoFundMe account to commemorate Herrick’s death and provide financial resources to cover Herrick’s medical bills and funeral costs.
The effect of Herrick’s death is matched by a surrounding declaration of love for her life. “No matter the health challenge Jordan was facing, she greeted us with a smile and brightened our day,” commented David Evans and Associates, Inc. on Herrick’s GoFundMe page. Herrick’s influence in her community shows how one life can make a difference.