REMEMBERING JACK HAIR

On Saturday, February 22nd, we woke up to news we’ll never get over: Jack Hair had passed away.

Who Jack was and what he represented at Flag Star is beyond words. Jack was a player with us in the earliest days of the Capital Hill program but, through the years (and his tireless commitment and work ethic) became so much more than that.

Jack was an official. Jack was a leader. He was a standard bearer for what it meant to be a committed, beloved staff member.

Jack was our brother. We’re often hesitant to use the word “family” - it’s such a tired metaphor within sports - but in our hearts, especially amongst the ‘Elite’ and the ‘Cap Hill’ community, there are a lot of ways we become a family unit: we work together, we endure together, we gather, we love, we laugh, we support. Jack was a member of that family, a brother; an essential part of our fabric.

If you look at the picture of him at the top of this page, you’d think Jack was a baby. He was and he wasn’t.

He wasn’t in the sense that Jack was an “old soul.” He made us completely re-think what it meant to be a “High Schooler.” He had a workout regimen, multiple jobs, a place in our off-season internship, an investment portfolio and a group of adults who looked at him as a peer. He was a Head Official. He made us re-visit our entire approach to staff training; looking at our applicants for who they were rather than what grade they were in. Jack was only in the 11th grade, but was already at the top of his game.

It’s important to remember that Jack also was a child. And in taking his own life, Jack made a decision that any of us adults would have begged him not to make. We all hold each other close - and Jack knew how much we loved and admired him - but we would’ve begged him, pleaded with him to give himself some time. To not make such an irreversible decision at such a young age. It’s the only time we would’ve ever reminded Jack - our little brother - of his age, imploring him to see his life and his future with a broader scope. And to get the help and support he needed.

It’s the heart-ache we’ll carry forever that we don’t have that chance. But what we will do is a) celebrate and remember everything Jack was in our family and b) use his loss as a launching point to prevent other teens from making this decision.

The Jack Hair Award - which you can donate towards here - will be given to a High School staff member that honors Jack’s legacy. And will be accompanied by a grant towards furthering their education.

We’ll continue to update this page with award recipients and their stories, but thank you very much for creating an endowment that will help serve and celebrate everything Jack represents.

We love you, Jack. And will keep your with us always.