HOLMDEL, N.J. - The family of Jack Bailey Clarence Dowd requested that TAPinto Holmdel and Colts Neck share the following letter from the family. It is reprinted here in its entirety at their request to this publication and they ask that you share it with all who are mourning with them:

"We wanted to reach out to all those grieving with us and sending their love and prayers. I know we have all spent the last couple of days grieving and many of us have been trying to cope with the unfairness of it all, and asking “Why?” Though there will never be an acceptable answer to this question, we did receive a small sense of closure after speaking to the medical examiner.

Jack had a medical condition known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). It is a congenital condition and often the cause of sudden death in young people, specifically young athletes. There was no way for us to know that Jack suffered from this and it was not something we would have ever tested for in his yearly checkups. It was also something that could have happened at any time and was not directly related to how hard he competed in his chosen sport of lacrosse, which gave us some comfort, as we struggled with the thoughts of what we could have done to prevent what happened. There was nothing we could have done, and as hard as it is to accept, we need to try to appreciate the 16-plus years he blessed us all with.

Sign Up for Holmdel & Colts Neck Newsletter Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. You have successfully signed up for the TAPinto Holmdel & Colts Neck Newsletter.

We have also struggled with the fact that we were not there when it happened, and only saw him when he was already at the hospital, and already gone, despite the valiant efforts of those on the field who immediately sprung into action and the tireless attempts to bring him back by the medical staff at the hospital. Mercifully, Jack was gone the moment he fell to the ground.

As heart-wrenching as it was to hear that, we found out what happened in the moments before he left us. He was on the field playing a sport he had grown to love, with teammates and friends he had come to admire and draw strength from. Right before he collapsed, he was laughing with these friends on the sidelines, with that smile that we all loved and adored. He never regained consciousness, he never started breathing again. But he left this world with a smile on his face, and we would like to remember him that way.

In the coming days, and weeks, and months we would like to continue to share our thoughts and our sincerest appreciation for the incredible support and love sent our way. One of Jack’s middle names was Bailey, and this was because one of his Dad’s greatest heroes is George Bailey from “It’s A Wonderful Life”. We wanted that character to be a part of who he was, and it came true. And though we feel like utter failures for not being able to do something to keep him with us, we draw strength from our Jack Bailey Clarence and know that “No man is a failure who has friends.” We are feeling that as we receive your thoughts and prayers and it has provided us with overwhelming comfort. We will need even more in the days ahead.

Please continue to keep Jack’s spirit alive for us and with us. Be kind to one another, let go of the silly, unimportant things, and focus on making others happy, and this world a better place. That is how he will remain with us all."

With peace and love, Casey, Rosaline, and Sean



