Jaden Thom of Glen Cove dies in a car accident

Glen Cove High School graduate Jaden Thom, 20, died Sept. 30 after a car accident at college.

Thom graduated in 2022 and attended the University of Delaware, where he studied finance.

Thom played varsity lacrosse in high school and worked for the Glen Cove television station with his twin brother Joseph.

“Jaden was a very kind and mature person,” lacrosse coach Steven Tripp said. “He was an excellent student who cared deeply about his grades.”

“He worked very hard on the lacrosse field. He played a few varsity games as a freshman and scored two goals in the first game he played in,” Tripp said.

Thom was an organ donor and his heart was donated to a 23-year-old girl who had had two previous unsuccessful attempts, the school district said.

He was “a good-looking young man with a great personality,” Tripp said.

Glen Cove Television posted a video titled “GCTV Remembers Jaden Thom” on October 2nd.

“Jaden was an active GCTV crew member, anchor and reporter for the Friday morning news,” said GCTV reporter Kailey Yanes Rosa. “Jaden will be remembered as he walked into the team gym smiling and with a positive attitude.”

“GCTV is like a family,” said Chris Barry, television and media teacher. “He was definitely a long-time favorite here. And an always happy, smiling face.”

Barry said the GCTV crew was a tight-knit group after returning to school from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said Thom took many television classes while studying at GCHS and many of his classmates traveled home for the memorial service.

“That’s when you realized he was such an important face,” Barry said. “He made the place what it should be.”

“20-year-olds shouldn’t be allowed to die,” he said.

The Glen Cove City Council held a moment of silence for Thom at its Oct. 8 meeting.

“As a child, he rode his bike past my house every day with his brother,” Mayor Pam Panzenbeck said.

“A year ago, last summer, the deputy mayor and I were standing by a fire across from his house and his family was supplying water to the department because it was one of the hottest days of the summer,” she said.

Panzenbeck said she learned then that Thom was involved with the Aetna Hook and Ladder Firehouse in Delaware.

According to the fire department, he joined the department as a probationary member in April 2023 and was named an active member in July.

“Despite his sudden death and in the spirit of Aetna’s motto of ‘Service to Others,’ Jaden’s service will live on and impact many others through his organ donation for many years to come,” the fire department posted on Facebook.

The Glen Cove Booster Club is currently raising funds for the Jaden Brandt Thom Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to one of the high school’s senior athletes.

Anyone who would like to donate can visit www.gchsboosterclub.com.