Jake Boos' Legacy

I am deeply saddened about the passing of our friend and colleague Jake Boos. Jake took his own life on Friday night and I only share that because he asked that we at Healthline commit to making a positive impact on mental health.

Jake was a wonderful human being first and foremost. He was thoughtful and caring and even in the last 24 hours I have heard so many stories of his thoughtful gestures – whether it was calls or notes out-of-the-blue to check-in with people or the deep friendships he built with his colleagues. He was honest and kind in every way – and everyone knew it from the moment they met him. Please share your own stories in the comments below.

At work he was so committed. He worked hard for himself and for everyone else. He was always willing to take on extra work to lighten others’ load. And he was passionate about a vision of a stronger, healthier world. He believed intensely that we (and our users) could transform healthcare through education, advocacy and by enabling consumers to take a stronger, more empowered role in their own care.

His request that Healthline and all of us take on mental health more deeply is an aspect of his vision. Even in the moments before his suicide, he wrote about how the world needed better education and perspective on mental health. I can’t know exactly what he meant, but I think he realized that his strength and his capacity to take everything on himself was undoing him. Our society makes too much of the “stiff upper lip” and lionizes people who show no vulnerability. But we all need help. For myself I know that talking to a therapist and being vulnerable and open with friends and colleagues has made me a better father and a happier man. We all (yes: YOU) need to help people talk about their hopes, fears, triumphs and tragedies because in the talking we make connections with each other and in our own brains which will keep us healthier and stronger.

We won’t ever really know or understand why Jake took his life because those who know him know that he was so proud and happy of the things he cared most about: his children, his wife Elizabeth, his friends and colleagues and his ability to have a positive impact on the world through his job. And in that struggle to understand, I hope that we will all make Jake’s wish a legacy: learn more about mental health and make open, honest, vulnerable connections with your friends and with mental health professionals as an investment in your own mental health. For more information, visit Healthline’s Suicide Prevention Resource Guide.

Jake’s family will hold a wake on Tuesday from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the Volk-Leber Funeral Home (268 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell, NJ, US, 07649) and a funeral on Wednesday at 10am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (102 Park St, Haworth, NJ, US, 07641), followed by a lunch and reception at Ragazzi Restaurant (530 Livingston St, Norwood, NJ 07648). The family would like to welcome all of his friends and colleagues who wish to share in the celebration of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends and family make donations to a fund for the education of Jake’s children. You can contribute through this GoFundMe page or if you’d rather do it without a fee, direct message me and I’ll provide necessary information.

Below is Jake’s obituary. 

Jacob John Boos was born on August 21, 1975, the third son of Joseph Boos and Carole Pauly Boos. He admired his two older brothers John and Jim, even though at times they gave him much grief! Jake attended grade school in both Eau Claire and Hayward, Wisconsin. In the summer of 1989 he moved to La Crosse, WI and entered Aquinas Catholic High School that fall. This was the beginning of many lifelong friendships, which he always cherished. Jake was active in track and basketball throughout his high school days. While he had many friends, his closest remained his high school pals, Scott Richert and Dave Fischer. They enjoyed many adventures backpacking, canoeing and just hanging out during their high school and college years. The “Three Musketeers” had many a good time. In his senior year of high school, Jake fell in love with a fiery redhead, Elizabeth Noelke who quickly became the love of his life. Jake graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in real estate and finance. After he graduated, he was recruited by Ocwen Corp in West Palm Beach, FL. That was the beginning of his wild career, which began with the world of real estate and expanded to business development for the healthcare industry.

Elizabeth Ann Noelke and Jacob Boos were married April 17,1999, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in La Crosse WI. Jake never lived down the fact that he sobbed at the front of the church when he saw Elizabeth walking down the aisle. The birth of their three children were in his words “three of the best days of my life.” Katie, Max and Sophie were his most cherished possessions, and Jake was a remarkable dad. He was the dad of a thousand selfies, goofy beyond measure, lived to tease but always there to hug and share a special moment with each of his kids. Jake loved coaching his son Max’s baseball and basketball teams. Those kids became his kids and he was so proud of all their accomplishments. There was always a little piece of his heart left wherever he traveled with his family. Whether it was a beach on Marco Island lying in the sun, watching the sunset, going down a ski hill faster than Max, or just enjoying a trip to a lake or cabin. The family adventures always began with “OK, now what are we going to do?” or ‘This is my new favorite thing.” Jake was a remarkably caring person, he loved large. He always enjoyed a cheesy gift prank for his father-in-law, and he always appreciated the fellowship of a good friend. He was proud of his “Wisconsin roots”.       

Jake is survived by this wife Elizabeth, children Katie, Max, and Sophie. His father Joseph Boos of Richland Center, WI, mother Carole Pauly Boos of Eau Claire, WI, and brothers John Boos of Zimmerman, MN, Jim(Joanna) Boos Cold Spring, MN, nieces Jenna, Jessica and nephew Jack. In-laws Bill and Char Noelke of LaCrosse, WI as well as brothers and sister-in-laws Chris(Kate)Noelke of Lexington, NC, Rane, Andrew, Patrick. Stephanie(John Loizzi) and Grace of La Crosse, WI, Joseph(Ashley)Noelke of Rochester MN, Vincent and Charlie, William Noelke of Blair, WI. He is also survived by many Great-Uncles, Great-Aunts, cousins and friends across the United States. We all feel an enormous loss, our hearts are broken, and our void will never be filled.