Our community lost a valued member with an amazing story - RIP Solaris

[victra♥]

In Memory of Jarrett "Solaris" Bortscher

Solaris dressed as Roy preparing to defend the knee from Punch Crew's MikeMonkey.

​

I, on behalf of the Alberta smash community, would like to share the story of a remarkable and inspiring community member and friend.

Jarrett "Solaris" Bortscher was an 18 year old, autistic and catatonic Samus player in Edmonton, Alberta who had gone missing Sept 23, 2012 and had found to be passed on Sept 26, 2012. From a talented member in our city's dance community, to a fierce competitor in our smash community, Jarrett always exceeded in everything he loved with his unmatched strength, skill, and passion despite all the odds against him. Even though Jarrett was one of our youngest smashers, he's been a part of the smash community here in Alberta longer than almost any of us. He's spent the last 8 years of his life being actively involved with our ever growing community, travelling to every smashfest and every tournament.

Alberta will be hosting a charity tournament in Jarrett's honor (see: here) on Sept 29, 2012. The proceeds of the tournament will be given to the Edmonton Autism Society (see: here).
I've gotten a few people interested in donating online. I'm not exactly sure about how to go about doing that, but I believe you can donate directly to the Edmonton Autism Society through Paypal.

Jarrett, you will always be remembered. Smash on, Solaris.

---

I was with Jarrett's family for much of the day. His dad was telling me about how we, the friends he made through Smash, were honestly his closest friends, and one of the greatest joys in his life. He told me about how he was always so eager to go to every smashfest that was happening, and that playing Smash was one of the few things he happily talked about.

One of my fondest memories is way back in 2005, when we had Smash Thursdays at Devon's house after school. One particular day, Jarrod and Carl came over, and proceeded to trash us. I remember Jarrod never lost a game for the whole time we were playing. Jarrett was watching the whole time. He very timidly asked if he could play a round. We said sure, and he BEASTED Jarrod. He totally hardstyled on him from out of nowhere. We were all like waaaat.

After everyone else had left, having seen Carl do a super wavedash, he asked me how to do it. I explained that I sucked at it, and had to put in some input on some frame of a down+B (I think it's 43?) and demonstrated one after like 15 tries. He picks up the controller and does it after two. I stayed for a while to chat with Devon, and Jarrett just sat in front of the screen, practicing SWD the entire night in training mode. Just that image of him sitting there training gives me such feelings about his devotion to this game.

I'm gonna miss him a lot. I really wish that I could have understood him better.

---

If you're interested, here are some great sets of him in action from a tournament 2 years ago.
Sleak (Falco) + Solaris (Samus): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfgcqWgt408
Superboomfan (Marth) + Solaris (Samus): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxSP19ggW_4

 

[Strong Badam]

Wow. Heartfelt story, I read the post in the alberta thread the other day and was nearly moved to tears.
RIP Jarrett. I will donate when I can.

 

[TheCrimsonBlur]

My condolences to Jarrett's family, and the Alberta smash community. May he rest in peace.

 

[-Philip Coast Philip-]

wow... hope you can all continue to remember him well, thanks for sharing. i just found out about him this week, and was telling my friend his name was solaris...
rest in peace.

 

[TheCrimsonBlur]

Oh man, I'm reading through the Alberta thread now and its absolutely heart wrenching.

Ugghhh

 

[Teczer0]

I'm really sorry to hear that, my condolences to his family and the Alberta community as well.

I wish you well on your charity tournament, its a great idea.

 

[kd-]

Rest in peace, Jarrett. My condolences to his family and friends.

 

[Beat!]

That's tragic. My condolences to friends/family.

 

[standardtoaster]

I'll donate to the charity tonight.

 

[EPsilon933]

Sounds like he was a great friend. Make his charity tournament awesome for him

 

[LLDL]

Rest in peace, Solaris

 

[oliman]

my condolences to his family and friends

 

[Revven]

I was reading through the thread the other day as well, such a sad story. My condolences go out to his family. It's always sad to lose someone, even if you don't know them personally or otherwise.

 

[DerfMidWest]

I really want to donate but I'm broke :'(

My condolences to friends/family

 

[KirbyKaze]

Right in the feels :'(

 

[Chronodiver Lokii]

Rest in peace....It's always upsetting to hear of the smash scene losing people....

His family and the alberta smash scene are in my thoughts at this tough time

 

[oukd]

Tragic...he was so young, too. RIP.

 

[MikeHaggarTHAKJB]

This is very sad. My heart goes out to his family, I hope they are somewhat ok.

 

[Varist]

wtf he coulda been the next m2k

2 edgegimps on dat falco at the end of the match, that's like a mini m2k v dsw

this sucks

 

[strawhats]

wow...too young and gone too soon. may his soul rest in peace and may his family and friends find the strength to go on. My condolences to the family.

 

[AXE 09]

Dang.... RIP, Solaris

 

[Stevo]

it all happened so fast.

It's still hard to believe.