He'll be missed more than he ever could have imagined.

James Tedrow Gauntt
November 8, 1983-August 9,2008

F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "For awhile after you read John Keats all other poetry seems to be only whistling or humming." The same can be said for a person having the privilege of being in the presence of James "Jimmy" Tedrow Gauntt. No on eels was as bright, as talented, as kind, as genuine, or as loving. Jimmy was music, the rest of us mere explanation of its sound. But rarer still, and perhaps even more remarkable, was what Jimmy achieved in his 24 short years here on earth.

Jimmy grew up in Solana Beach and graduated Torrey Pines High School in 2002 with a 4.65 GPA. He was senior class president, played four years of football, three years of track & field, and was voted by his peers to be both Homecoming Prince and recipient of the "nicest guy" award. He was an AP scholar, a Boys State finalist, National Honors Society member, recipient of the Dartmouth Book Award, the Golden Falcon Award, and the prestigious Trustee Scholarship to the University of Southern California.

Jimmy graduated Phi Beta Kappa from USC in 2006, spending a summer studying in Madrid and his senior year in London at Queens College. He was a member of the SAE Fraternity. While fluent in Spanish, his minor at USC, Jimmy majored in English Literature. He was a prolific reader. Inspired by Shakespeare, D.H. Lawrence and James Joyce, among countless others, Jimmy's ineffable talent as a writer was only outmatched by his intense desire to create. Upon the very day of his tragic death where he was accidentally struck by a motorist while a pedestrian, Jimmy had just completed his fourth screenplay titled "Now's the Time." As well as screenplays, Jimmy had a passion for the theatre, both as an actor and in penning 3 plays, two of which were produced and staged. For the play he wrote that was performed by members of the USC theatre department, Jimmy saw fit that a tenor saxophone play in the orchestra to represent the unconscious of its central character, as Jimmy had more than 8 years of saxophone training and experience himself.

Despite all of his ability and genius, despite all of his accomplishments and kindness, Jimmy remained an angel because of his laughter, able to fly simply because he took himself so lightly. Jimmy was hilarious. But he listened. He listened with his whole heart. Every friend, acquaintance and family member understood no greater truth than this: Jimmy cared so much, so sincerely. Forever beaming with the greatest smile, forever full of joy, forever ready to help others find and hold fast to happiness, forever young. Jimmy Gauntt was an artist. He will be missed by those who love him in ways forever unsayable.

He is survived by his parents Casey and Hilary Gauntt, his sister Brittany Gauntt Kirby and brother-in-law Rayn Kirby, his Grandmother Barbara Case Gauntt, Grandparents James and Virginia Tedrow, aunts Laura Gauntt Butie, Ainsley Nies and Leslie Tedrow, and his uncle Grover Gauntt III and their families.