Who is Kyle?
Kyle Johnson had a profound impact on many people in his nineteen years, both in his hometown of North Attleboro, MA and across the two campuses of Keene State College and Bridgewater State University. To know Kyle was to know goodness. He was a special soul with a special heart, and he will always be remembered for his love of his family and friends, his passion for helping others, and his amazing sense of humor and contagious laugh.
To some people Kyle was the funniest friend they knew, and his infectious laugh and smile welcomed everyone in. He made friends laugh with his quick wit and humor, he knew how to turn the mundane into something hilarious and memorable, and his sense of humor and great laugh could make anyone’s day better.
The love Kyle had for making others happy drove everything he did. He had a deep devotion to the Special Needs Community in the southeastern Massachusetts area, and he made a very positive impact on their lives through his time spent volunteering for the Special Olympics, Best Pals, and Best Buddies organizations. He loved making people with disabilities feel included and important. Kyle’s excitement and passion for the Special Olympics was widely contagious, and his natural ability to connect with the athletes was an admirable characteristic to those who witnessed it. Posthumously, he is the namesake of the Kyle Johnson Community Inclusion Award for his compassion, dedication, and commitment to inclusion.
It was common for Kyle to greet friends and family with a big smile or hug, or in times of need he’d be there to lend a comforting ear or a thoughtful word to brighten someone’s day; always putting others around him before himself despite his own internal pain and struggles was Kyle’s basic instinct. Many people have noted Kyle’s positive impact on others; the way he made people feel was a gift.
Although his life was far too short, Kyle left a meaningful legacy of caring for others no matter how he was feeling. It is in Kyle’s memory, and in recognition of his legacy of caring, that the KyleCares Foundation strives each day to promote open and honest communication about mental health challenges experienced by teens and young adults, and to assist in providing them with resources and support needed to navigate life’s obstacles during their high school and college years.
Kyle Johnson Video Tribute
We’d love for you to have the opportunity to hear a little more about Kyle Johnson in the words of some of his closest friends & family.
Our Story
On April 2, 2018 our lives were forever changed when our beloved 19-year-old son and brother Kyle died by suicide. Most people who knew Kyle would describe him as a funny, kind, and genuine person who had great compassion for his family, friends, and strangers. What many people did not know, and in some cases were shocked to learn about, were his struggles with mental illness for nearly ten years.
Kyle often spoke about not only his own OCD, anxiety, and depression, but he also talked about the high volume of other teens and young adults in high schools and colleges who struggle with mental health challenges every day. In a final letter written by Kyle prior to his passing, he stressed the importance of raising awareness of mental illness and suicide. He encouraged others who struggled with mental illness to seek help and recover; to never stop fighting the disease, and to never feel ashamed for having to admit they need assistance.
And so, we feel a strong responsibility to tell Kyle’s story with candor and honesty. We hope to fulfill Kyle’s final wish to talk openly about the importance of mental health and suicide, bringing these two powerful diseases to the forefront of everyday dialogue in society. Helping other teens, young adults, and their parents become more knowledgeable on these topics may give them more courage to seek help for themselves, their loved ones, or their friends, and to know where to turn for the support services they desperately need.
Perhaps the best representation of Kyle is this quote he shared in his letter – words he lived by himself every day despite his own struggle: “You should try to be nice to everyone – I know it’s hard…but everyone has a story that will break your heart.” This is a life lesson for all of us to remember, and one we will strive to live by as well. It is our hope that Kyle’s legacy of caring for others will continue to live on in his name through the KyleCares Foundation.
Jim, Sue, Katie & Lauren Johnson