Remembering Jason McKenzie

Jason McKenzie. (photo courtesy of Augusta University)

By Rakiyah Lenon | Special to The Bell Ringer

Passionate. That’s the word colleagues and friends are using to describe Augusta University’s own Jason McKenzie.

McKenzie passed away on May 2, 2024 in a small plane crash near AU’s Summerville Campus.

Having served as associate director of philanthropy at Augusta University, McKenzie worked closely with people in the community and was well-known in Augusta.

Mary McCormack, the associate vice president for gift and estate planning at AU, said she and McKenzie both began working at AU on Feb. 1, 2020.

“He was a very passionate and enthusiastic, compassionate fundraiser for Augusta University,” she said.

Part of McKenzie’s work involved raising money for AU’s athletic programs.

“Golf was a personal passion of his,” she said.

McCormack added that McKenzie’s passions and outreach also extended beyond athletics.

“He was a great collaborator,” she said. “He worked with I think every other fundraiser within our area and just wanted to be helpful.”

Brandon McCray, vice president for Development in Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement at AU, said people and community were dear to McKenzie.

“Jason was genuinely passionate about his job, genuinely passionate about people,” he said.

In thinking of the many times he shared with McKenzie, McCray reflected on the routine manner in which he and McKenzie would interact at work.

“Jason would always find some way to jab at me about my sports teams in the morning,” McCray recalled. “Whether it was college or pro. Jason always had something to say about it. It was a nice way to come in and laugh on your the way into the office. Jason had a nice way of doing that.”.

McCormack also remembered McKenzie has always having “a good, positive attitude.”

“He whistled a lot, he sang a lot. He liked to spread joy,” she said. “He was always thinking about other people.”

Above all, McCormack and McCray said McKenzie’s family was his number one priority.

“His family was the most important thing to him,” said McCormack. “He absolutely adored his son Patrick and his wife Stephanie. They came first. Always came first.”

“He loved his family and he loved life,” McCray said.

Though it is not yet finalized, McCormack said they are in the process of establishing a scholarship McKenzie’s name.

Jason McKenzie’s obituary can be found here: Jason Patrick McKenzie Obituary 2024 - Platt's Funeral Home (plattsfuneralhome.com) .

Contact Rakiyah Lenon at rlenon@augusta.edu.