Update: Fund, Memorial Plans Established for ‘JP’
News — By Staff on July 29, 2009 at 8:13 pmUPDATED 11:25 p.m. 7/30
Friends and family of James “JP” Saul will say goodbye to the fun-loving student at the UCF Reflecting Pond at 2 p.m. Friday, and then they’ll gather at his favorite happy hour hangout — the Knight Library.
Michelle Copple is helping to organize the 4 p.m. memorial happy hour which will raise funds in honor of Saul.
Copple posted on facebook that a beer mug will be put in the back bar and a plaque will be put up in Saul’s honor.
It’s no secret that Saul loved to party. When he came to UCF, friends say he insisted on being called “Drunk James.” He outgrew that name and went by “DJ,” and then eventually went by “JP.” He was known for making friends with almost everyone he came in contact with — even if he got kicked out of the bars after one, or two, or three too many drinks.
Copple summed up Saul well in her facebook post:
“…the guy would go to the gym, go to class and work the (Pita) Pit — how, at times he probably walked haha he always made us laugh, those sweet dance moves, that wild humping, falling on the ground or passing out on a couch…always happy! Its heartbreaking that he is gone but as we all think about him no one can tell a negative story about JP, besides peeing on something, not wearing a shirt and getting kicked out or getting put in the drunk tank haha he was ALWAYS a positive person to be around…that is why we have to celebrate his life! WE LOVE & MISS YOU JP “DRUNK JAMES” SAUL♥ …”
Saul’s cause of death is not known, but friends say he was found by roommates unresponsive in a Boardwalk apartment floor a few days after after he partied hard for his 23rd birthday. It’s believed he lay on the floor for days, because he was alone in the apartment while his roommate was out of town, and no one could get a hold of him during that time.
An autopsy is being performed to determine an exact cause of death.
UPDATED 9:15 P.M. ON 7/29/09
For probably the first time, a fun-loving UCF student known for making everyone laugh is instead making a whole lot of people cry.
According to his facebook page, James “JP” Saul is dead. He was 23.
James hanging out at one of his favorite bars.
The news broke on Saul’s facebook around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Rocky Gersonde made the first comment: “Miss u bro!”
Minutes later, Amanda Rubini’s post confirmed Saul had passed away: “RIP JP I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU….YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND FOREVER.”
In the three hours since the first condolence post on facebook, nearly 100 comments were posted by James’ friends. Most were in shock and many wanted answers, but so far there was no explanation as to how he died.
One KnightNews.com reader reported that a dead body was discovered this morning inside the Boardwalk apartments. That reader was told the body was there for more than a day before it was discovered. KnightNews.com has not yet confirmed if this body was Saul’s.
Someone who knows Saul apparently has access to his facebook account. Saul’s status as of 8:09 p.m. read: “JP is in a better place. (Will keep everyone posted with service details.) God Bless.2 hours ago.”
Saul is the second UCF student to die within the last week. UCF student and Beta Theta Pi member Trevor Shipley died Friday morning in a car accident in Lake County.
Check back for updates on this sad breaking story.
Related Link:
A facebook group has been launched in memory of Saul.
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5 Comments
This POSTED originally at Knightnews.com….. Found on the RIP James Saul Wall. Because, some found it necessary to trash my son!
As his Mother… I pray that only positive and upbeat comments be made.
His family is comforted to know how much he helped people and was loved. Keep the stories and photos coming!
Much inaccurate reporting has been done, yet no one has contacted the family for the truth? WHY??? Very curious?
It is easy to attack someone who is dead. For those who had not been so kind, consider your own epitaph? How perfect are you? And, would so many being crying at your passing?
My son suffered from Epilepsy. God gave him FREEWILL! He chose to drink… sometime alot! I know this!
What most don’t know is that Jimmy “JP” struggled with his illness and cried to me many times, “WHY. Me? I Just want to be normal!” Did he over compensate? Damn straight! But, He did find joy in living! He was a compassionate, caring Soul! He brought happiness to all that knew him! Will he be forever, missed? ETERNALLY!
Again, for the sake of his family… Including his 13 year old sister!
“If you can’t say anything nice, Don’t say anything at all!
I AM proud to be his Mother, Dawn Saul
dawnmariesaul@yahoo.com
I knew James when he first started at UCF as a troubled freshmen coping with some serious personal issues by drinking a lot. It’s true he preferred the nickname ‘Drunk James’ and that many used it. For the most part he was a good kid but friends are often your best critics and I think that its shocking that the myriad of comments have been ultra-positive and that no one has commented on the fact that James had a serious drinking problem. In addition, it’s almost as though everyone seems to idolize his extremely debaucherous behavior as the test of true character in a man. The comments students are leaving praise his lack of concern for himself and idolize his repetitive manner of getting kicked out of bars, peeing on things, being put in the drunk tank and blacking out. It’s almost as if no one who’s commented on his death sees it fit to make a social commentary out of James’ situation. Would it require all that much for someone to point out James’ true issues and explain who he was? That his behavior was not exactly something that should be cherished and celebrated, but something to be learned from? Is it so bad that someone examine his life and death with at least a small measure of scrutiny?
At this point we still dont know. The reports have not come back yet. All we do know is JP was epileptic and shouldnt have been drinking but all he wanted was to be a normal kid so he lived the college life. And honestly I dont think there is anything wrong with living every day to the fullest. In JPs 23 years he lived more than most ever will!
umm i cant find a single article or explanation saying how he died
This article was done in poor taste and absolutely DISGUSTS me everytime I read it…”he lay on the floor for days” ?? I mean seriously… the gruesome details are no ones business, but his close friends and family. Also, what does “partying hard for his 23rd birthday” have to do with anything? He did not die drunk. He had health problems. This is a public medium..what happened to respect for the deceased? This is classless and a terrible reflection of the person who wrote it and UCF as a whole.