On October 6, 2024, Julian Alexander Yaffe passed away from severe seizures.  Despite having Lennox-Gastaut, a devastating form of uncontrolled epilepsy, Julian was renowned for his gentleness, affection, humor, amazing jumps, love of music, kindness, snuggles, sensitivity, patience, respect for others, cool dance moves, depth of soul, bravery, and intelligence.

Julian was beautiful in body and soul.  He loved all genres of music (especially Mozart, Beethoven, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Thelonious Monk, country, hip hop, and phonics songs); ancient and medieval history; mythology; literature; art (especially van Gogh); historical and nature crafts; weaving, beading, and spinning; climbing, swinging, swimming, horses, and walks in the woods; baking and cooking; stim and sensory toys; jumping on trampolines; costumes, Halloween, Yo Gabba Gabba; Arthurian legends, Robin Hood, Vikings, and Harry Potter; theology; polar bears and snow leopards; thorns and burrs; guitars, chimes, bells, rhythm sticks, drums; his birthday; mathematics, calendars, clocks, and currency; and above all, nature and loved ones. He made beautiful paintings and music.

For a long time, he valiantly fought daily seizures with unremitting bravery, humor, strength, and grace. Julian's death will leave his family and friends forever bereft and grieving, but he would have been pleased to know that the SUDEP research gained from his profile will be used to help save other children with epilepsy.

Julian is survived by his parents, Amy Leal and David Yaffe; his grandparents, Joanne and Stephen Campbell, George and Pam Leal, Martin and Connie Yaffe; Aunt Jill Campbell and Uncle Bobby Bousquet, Uncle Shaun Campbell, Uncle George & Aunt Jenn Leal; Uncle Michael Yaffe and his children; his cousins Benjamin, Matthew, Christopher, Tatiana, and Bowden, as well as second cousins and extended family; The Blaus; Garret and Kathy Keizer; The Dunns and DiFolcos; former caretakers including Katey, China, and Noah; his beloved aide Luisa Hislop, dedicated school staff at the New School of Montpelier and Concord Road Elementary, and innumerable friends and fans honoring him from the USA all the way to Iceland.

We are grateful to Dr. Orrin Devinsky at NYU Langone, Dr. Eric H. Kossoff of Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth Hospital, the team at Boston Children's Hospital, Dr. Shefner, Dr. Bannock, and the Glover Ambulance Squad for their good care of Julian.

There will be a Celebration of Life at the Cur­tis-Britch & Bouf­fard Fu­neral Home, 12 Elm Street Barton, VT 05822.   Call­ing hours will be held on Sunday October 20, 2024 from 1 to 2 p.m. A ser­vice will fol­low at 2 p.m. and will also be Zoomed (link offered on request). On­line con­do­lences may be made at cur­tis-britch.com.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy) program:  https://give.epilepsy.com/page/33651/donate/1. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.