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Jason Pernice

August 12, 2022
Decatur, GA

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Pernice, Jason Jason Lawrence Pernice passed away unexpectedly on August 12, 2022 at his home in Decatur, Georgia. He was 53 years old. He will be missed for his quick wit, wide-ranging interests, broad pop culture knowledge, and his strong belief in the individual rights of others and social justice. Jason was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on August 30, 1968 to Ralph L. and Rebecca [Strickland] Pernice. He spent his childhood on Edgecliff Lane in the Hill 'n Brook neighborhood and attended Angling Road Elementary, Portage North Junior High, and Portage Northern High School, where he played soccer, played saxophone in the band, served as yearbook photographer, and was elected senior class vice president. Awarded a National Merit Scholarship through the Upjohn Company, he graduated co-valedictorian of the Class of 1986. Jason attended the University of Virginia where he was part of the Echols Scholars Program and Monroe Hill (now Brown) Residential College. He served as a representative on First-Year Council, photographer for Corks and Curls yearbook, and as student manager for the UVa Women's Soccer Team, all while actively supporting the 'Hoos at football and basketball games both at home and away. Some of his fondest memories included witnessing the 1995 football team's first-ever victory over an unbeaten Florida State and cheering on the 2019 Cavalier Men's Basketball team as they captured the NCAA tournament title. During his time at UVa, he also spent the summer of 1988 as an intern to late U.S. Representative Howard Wolpe in Washington, D.C. After earning Intermediate Honors and Phi Beta Kappa membership, Jason graduated in 1990 with a BA with Distinction in Economics and a minor in Chinese Language and Literature. He worked for Nathan Associates in Northern Virginia before entering Emory University's Master of Business Administration program on a full scholarship. There he completed a semester abroad at Manchester Business School (UK) before earning his MBA in Marketing. An early adopter of computers, Jason spent his career helping others solve their technology issues as president of his own company, Sophos Software Limited. Combining his programming skills with his love of college sports, he created Collegio Football, a media guide and statistics tracking software for NCAA Division I teams, whose fans included ESPN's Chris Fowler and Mike Tirico. Jason was an audio- and cinephile as well, born out of listening to old records and watching classic films with his fellow night-owl mother. While at the University of Virginia, Jason met his life partner of 31 years, Kay Thanaporn, a fellow resident at Monroe Hill, and they traveled the world together, attaining his goal of visiting all 50 US states in between trips to Canada, South America, Australia, Europe, and the Caribbean. Jason is survived by his partner, Kay, his father, Ralph (Nancy) Pernice of Augusta, MI, and sister, Laura (David Lundin) Pernice of Pinckney, MI. Jason is also survived by Kay's parents, Dr. Prasit and Bunleng Thanaporn of Halifax, VA, two step-nieces, Ella and Christina, many cousins and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, who passed in 2012, his grandparents, uncle, aunt and one cousin. Memorial services will be held at a later date. In his memory donations can be made to the National Park Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, or The Sierra Club.