Jeremy Till Hale, 47, resident of Santa Cruz, passed away in Santa Cruz on Friday, August 30, 2024, ending a life filled with a passion for Vegan Activism, Animal Welfare, Music, Cooking and Graphic Lettering.

He is survived by his mother, Lynn Hale, his stepfather, Jerry Hale, his half-sister, Leah Lynn Till Thornhill, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins. He is predeceased by his father, Billy Dwight Till.

Born in Metairie, Louisiana, he lost his father at an early age. After a couple of years, he gained a stepdad. After a couple of his stepdad’s job-related moves, he ended up in Denmark where he spent his adolescence. In Denmark, he learned to speak fluent Danish, made Danish friends and loved all things Danish. A typical teenager, he rode bikes, learned guitar, was an expert skateboarder, and travelled in Europe with family and on school trips.

Returning to the U.S., he became a “jack of all trades” as a bartender, a taxi driver, working in restaurants and even a state park. He became a Vegetarian, first. After he could no longer accept using animals for food or products, he became a full-fledged Vegan and preached his animal welfare philosophy to all.

He was an avid fan of the Burning Man Festival, attending for years in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. He travelled internationally to India, Thailand and Mexico. Moving around the U.S., he lived in Seattle, Portland, and Denver, ending up in Santa Cruz where he attended a school for digital music production. He moved to San Luis Obispo. Then, after a few years, he returned to Santa Cruz with a plan to focus on his cooking skills to provide more Vegan food options in Santa Cruz, a plan now untimely ended at its start.

Jeremy lived a meaningful life. Although through much of his life, he dealt with mental health issues, he refused to be defined by them and never stopped trying to move forward. Many will remember his kind and intelligent treatment of both people and animals, as well as his attitude toward those who mistreated them. He is sorely missed already.

To best remember Jeremy, his family asks that donations be made to:

Hen Harbor, an animal sanctuary near Santa Cruz, a 501c3 non-profit organization

Little Hill Sanctuary, an animal sanctuary in Watsonville, a 501c3 non-profit organization