Jeremy Christian Wearn, 19: Lover of computers, classics and creatures
Jeremy Wearn never met a computer he couldn't fix.
Years ago when his older brother's computer crashed during a major project, the family called in several professionals who all pronounced the machine irreparable. But days later, just as his brother was headed for a deadline meltdown, Mr. Wearn, then 14, announced he had fixed the errant computer on his own.
"He just had this innate ability to take something every single member of the family thought was a piece of trash and fix these problems seemingly without any type of real research,” said Mr. Wearn's brother, Jimmy Wearn, 21.
Jeremy Christian Wearn, 19, of Lilburn, a 2009 honors graduate of Brookwood High School who attended Georgia State University, died Saturday. The cause of death is unknown, said family members.
Mr. Wearn had, of course, planned to pursue a career in computer science after so many years building and restoring machines. While his technical feats seemed like near miracles to everyone else, to Mr. Wearn it was just something he did. "Anything he was good at, he thought was easy,” said his mother, Mary Wearn.
The quiet young man made literary greats such as Whitman, Dante and Tolstoy, his constant companions, even reading "Anna Karenina" during a 2007 jaunt through Italy with friends. Mr. Wearn loved to travel, relishing journeys both big and small, from hiking and fishing trips with his dad to family visits to Tybee Island.
When he was younger, family members called him their "little Doctor Doolittle."
"He was always surrounded by some type of animal," said Jimmy Wearn. "He always had birds on his shoulder or was petting dogs or had found a stray cat. He had a big heart. He was a loving guy."
From hamsters to tiny sea creatures to Emily, the dog that became his pet when he was just a toddler, Mr. Wearn had a way of charming animals. But what many people didn't know about him, was that he loved being around people just as much.
“Jeremy was very quiet and shy and I think people probably didn’t know how much he loved people," Mary Wearn said.
Still when Mr. Wearn laughed, the world seemed to laugh with him. “He had that kind of belly laugh that when you hear it, you can’t help but laugh yourself," his mother said. "He always found that something funny."
In addition to his mother and older brother, Mr. Wearn is survived by his father, Jay Wearn and younger brother, Jackson Wearn, 17, all of Lilburn.
About the Author
Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta. Sign up to have her column sent to your inbox: ajc.com/newsletters/nedra-rhone-columnist.
