Godspeed, Jennell

Initially, I knew Jennell Allyn Jaquays casually after meeting her wife Rebecca Heineman, another legend in video game design and development. After Becky was able to acquire Jennell's original home that she had designed for herself, and both of them moved to Texas, we grew closer. Every now and then we would get together for lunch or dinner, or gaming. Those occasions were always special, specially the last couple ones we had where we played Hero Quest in a Jennell designed gaming table. With Jennell you could talk about everything, from politics to art, miniatures, technology, her dislike of use of AI to create original work, etc.

Jennell was always very open with her past, the time she served in the games industry, whether at TSR, Coleco, or id Software. She would often show me her next miniatures she was working on, always demonstrating what an accomplished visual artist she was. She dominated any visual and creative arts medium, from illustration to 3D Modeling, to creative writing, she would do it all. In 2003 she co-founded, and co-authored the syllabus, for the Guildhall video game development program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

She would illustrate most of her own TTRPG projects. Overall a wonderful artist, a stunning miniaturist and always so smart and funny. I remember fondly how she invited me to evaluate a campaign she was refreshing from her days before transitioning. Like many, I grew up on Jennell's artwork. I never thought in a million years I would end up calling her a friend.

Jennell was a huge smiling presence, who would encourage and mentor artists and game designers as well, she was always very kind, helpful and funny. She was a vocal and an activist for those in the trans community. She served as creative director for the Transgender Human Rights Institute, where she was involved in the petition for the US to adopt 'Leelah's Law', which aimed to outlaw conversion therapy for LGBT youth.

The last time we hung out together was in September 2023. I had picked up Jennell and Becky from their home and we went out to have a sandwich at Jersey Mike's. She was as bubbly as she usually is and we were talking about her recent work where she had recently finished a first draft to a huge overhaul of Central Casting.

This was very shortly before she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. It was difficult to go see her in the hospital, since my own father had fallen ill due to a much needed TAVR intervention. My father is a veteran from the Korean war, so his health care was impecable and he was able to survive his condition. But after he returned home and was in good health, Jennell was going to be my next stop.

However Jennell wasn't so lucky and between the difficulties of GBS, and what could be some other medical inadequacies, she succumbed to her sickness on January 10, 2024.

Jenelle was a legend to the world, in the short time we were friends for (since 2017) I considered her a very good friend of mine, and I am going to miss her. Jennell’s passing leaves a hole within each of us, but leaves an empty space in the heart of Rebecca Heineman. Carry Becky in our hearts.

Becky needs our help, with the mounting of medical bills and funeral expenses she has to cover. You can go here to help.