Jackson Roos’ ‘zest for life’ shines in others | Editor’s Notebook

Nine months ago, I began my tenure as editor of the Redmond Reporter. I’d been editor and news reporter at the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter for more than a decade and welcomed the chance to spread my wings and become involved with a different community.

By Andy Nystrom • May 30, 2013 4:31 pm

Nine months ago, I began my tenure as editor of the Redmond Reporter.

I’d been editor and news reporter at the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter for more than a decade and welcomed the chance to spread my wings and become involved with a different community.

About a month into  my new job, we were faced with covering the tragic story of Jackson Roos, who died in a zip-line accident at the age of 12.

I had never followed this sort of story in my career, so I was a bit uncomfortable attending the funeral service. Once it started, and the stories flowed about the positive impact Roos made in his short life, I sat in awe. “When it came to being a friend, he made it count. He had a zest for life,” a friend told the crowd.

Roos’ story comes back to me in our May 31 issue, where you can see his father, Bryan, on the front page addressing Little Leaguers about his son’s passion for life and baseball.

You can read all about the importance of the inaugural Jackson Roos Memorial Weekend Tournament and how Jackson affected people.

“The opening ceremony was a tender moment for us, and to find out that the Redmond Ridge ball field will take on his name is truly humbling and speaks volumes about what kind of an individual Jackson was and is,” Bryan wrote in an email to the Reporter. “He continues to touch so many, and as a result, many have touched us. We want to say ‘thank you’ to Redmond North Little League District 9, and all of the Redmond community. This tragedy has brought forth so much goodness in people and represents what Jackson stood for — kindness.”

On the move

Starting Friday, the Redmond Reporter will be moving to a new office in Totem Lake, sharing a space with the Kirkland Reporter and the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter. The new address is 11630 Slater Ave. N.E., suites 8-9. We’ll no longer be situated in downtown Redmond, but we’ll still be covering the area to the fullest.

Thanks for reading our paper in print and online at www.redmond-reporter.com, and be sure and check out our My City Redmond special section enclosed in today’s issue.