In the Passing of Jeremy LaPointe, TNT and the world suffer a great loss

Our hearts are broken by the devastating news that Jeremy LaPointe, a dedicated Take Note Troupe volunteer but even more dedicated husband and father, has tragically passed away on Friday, August 20th, several days after suffering a massive stroke in his brainstem. Jeremy made a huge impact in our program and his influence will long be felt. He embodied and embraced the Play Theory principles in the way he lived his life and interacted with others. Our Program Director, Michael Anderson, shares his thoughts in the tribute below to this mighty, generous soul. After his thoughts, scroll on to see different ways you can support his family and show them your love.

Jeremy LaPointe- builder of monuments, by Michael Anderson

I have told the story of meeting Jeremy LaPointe many times. I have always believed that our meeting was a monumental occasion. Appropriately, I came to find out later that he really did build monuments. These can be found in our theater, and most significant are the monuments he built out of us. May we always look at his handiwork and remember how he touched our lives.

I met Jeremy through his incredible daughter, Izzy. She was taking a Stage Craft class from me when I attempted to teach her how to use a drill. To my astonishment, she already knew how to use the drill and kindly asked me to step aside so she could fix the mistakes I had made. To increase my embarrassment and delight, Izzy explained to the class that I had the wrong tool after all and that her dad had the right tool to finish the job. Izzy loves making me feel this way and Jeremy couldn’t be more proud of her.

A few weeks later, Izzy arrived with 3 gears carved perfectly out of wood to fit right into the set for our staging of Willy Wonka. Jeremy had made these. I knew that I had to meet Jeremy in person and reached out. At that moment, an unlikely friendship between a boy in his 20’s and a man in his 40’s began. He began devoting his time to TNT, always letting me know that if I ever needed anything built, he would find a way to build it. I took him up on that offer many, many times and he always showed up to help, often accompanied by his daughters, wife, dog, and every so often, his parents or in-laws. I loved those long nights of challenging work, especially when his family showed up. Jeremy loved working with company. 

Eventually he took on leadership with the Stage Craft class, where he led youth in creating sets, props, a stage extension, and of course, the famous risers and tech booth. His daughters helped lead these various efforts. Jeremy worked one on one with youth to help them find pride in their accomplishments and would try to avoid credit, knowing it meant much more to those students. He was careful not to point out the flaws in the students and their work, always reminding me how important it was to build their confidence. If a mistake was big, he would fix it himself rather than causing embarrassment to the student, even if it meant staying till midnight on a Friday evening. Nothing excited him more than a student taking pride in their own work.

One day when Jeremy came to help me with a project at our building, he revealed to me that he had lost his job. Though the circumstances were tough, he accepted the situation and built on it saying, “Well…now I have plenty of time to be with my family and serve TNT”. Jeremy shortly thereafter took over a business as a handyman, and I’m sure it was his favorite job he has ever had.

Jeremy and his wife Christie showed TNT how powerful the united efforts of one family can be. They are a family of costume designers, crafters, props designers, technicians, performers, and builders. Both they and their talented daughters have enhanced every show we have produced since they joined our program. They believed in our program and Play Theory and saw what it could do to bless their family. And they gave us back so much more.

Before I knew Jeremy, I had been praying fervently for someone to show up and fill a gap I could not fill at TNT. Jeremy filled the gap that I could not – and more. I wish I had told him that, but I think he knew. Jeremy and I shared the same religious beliefs, and now with his passing, I know that his Savior is filling the gaps he could never fill. Jeremy was, is, and will always be my Hero. Jeremy Lapointe, the Builder of Monuments.

the lapointe family is in need

If you are able, we invite you to make a donation to help the LaPointe family with their medical bills, funeral costs, and temporarily with their living costs as they transition into this new life without Jeremy. Unfortunately, due to his recent job changes, they did not have a current life insurance policy. Thank you to the many of you who have already reached out to help and bless them! You can make a donation at the following website:

https://www.freefunder.com/campaign/lapointe-family-help

Share your memories of Jeremy with us and his family

If you have a story or memory of Jeremy and a way that he helped build you or your child, we would love to have you share it. Help the LaPointe family know and feel what we know- that Jeremy’s life mattered to so many people and that he made the world a better place! Please share your memories in the comments below!

Funeral services for Jeremy LaPointe

A funeral will be held for Jeremy LaPointe on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 at 3pm. The services will be held at 2610 Sierra Meadows Drive in Rocklin, California. All who were touched by Jeremy’s life are welcome to attend.