Jeremy Parrish Spirit Award

The Jeremy Parrish Spirit Award is presented in the honor of Jeremy Michael Parrish (1977-2000), a member of San Diego Hoops whose life tragically ended on his way to a dance competition in Palm Springs.

This special award goes to the individual who best personifies the sportsmanship and spirit of the league.

Jeremy was born in San Diego, on April 16, 1977. His father moved back to North Carolina shortly after he was born, and he was raised in a single-parent household along with his brother Rick, a 32-yeard old attorney who lives in Bakersfield, CA, and his sister Kelly, a 31-year legal assistant who lives in San Diego. He was close to both of his siblings, but was especially close to his sister.

He attended schools in SD including the School of Creative and Performing Arts and graduated from Madison High School in 1994.Following his graduation, he was employed at Stratagene in La Jolla. The company then expanded to Austin, TX, and Jeremy was sent there for six months to do their training. But he loved San Diego, and even though he was offered a position in Austin, he decided not to relocate.

At the time of his death, he was employed at Nokia in Scripps Ranch. Even though he had only worked there for eight months, he had found his "niche" and made many friends. He played on the Nokia basketball team. Nokia has since dedicated a memorial to Jeremy next to the basketball court. It is a meditation area with a beautiful flowering tree, flowers, a plaque and a bench in the shape of a seagull overlooking a beautiful canyon.

Jeremy also enjoyed dance. He began taking dance lessons at the age of six and continued studying dance until his death. In fact, he was on his way to a dance competition in Palm Springs at the time of the automobile accident that took his life.

Jeremy was a warm, sincere, loving person who always found the good in people. He was a "gentle leader." He was loved by most who came in contact with him, which is evidenced by the outpouring of love and support his family has received since his untimely death.

Much Love,
Sharlee Middlebrook
Mother and Friend