A Life Lived to the Fullest: Jaimie’s story
Jaimie’s Bridge is born from Jaimie Magee Lesnick’s fervent belief in equitable access to education. After fighting courageously for many years, second grade teacher Jaimie Magee Lesnick lost her battle with ovarian cancer on September 20, 2020, at the age of 30. We are committed to sharing these life lessons we have learned from Jaimie in our communities, and to keeping Jaimie’s legacy alive by building bridges to success for students, teachers and families.
the chapters of a beautiful life
1990
jaimie completes the magees.
Jaimie Alyse Magee began shining her light on January 11th, 1990. Born at Genesee Hospital, Jaimie was welcomed into the world by her protective big brothers, Justin and Jordan, and loving parents, Jim and Joyce.
Born with a congenital ear malformation, Jaimie faced her fair share of challenges from an early age - including many surgeries, doctor visits and setbacks. However, she never let anything get in her way or slow her down. She quickly found her voice, decided that she was going to use it to live her very best life, and she was determined to bring everyone she loved along for the ride.
Big brothers, Jordan (left) and Justin (right) were always there to love and protect their baby sister.
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Although she was the baby of the family, we all knew Jaimie was the boss. As her big brother, I was always so protective of her, but the truth is, she was the strongest out of the three of us.
— Justin Magee, Jaimie’s Brother
Growing up with jaimie.
Wherever Jaimie went, she accumulated friends along the way. Beginning in her childhood, she treated her friendships as sisterhoods, full of sleepovers, dance parties, staying up late and sharing her truest self with her life-long friends.
To many, Jaimie defined the meaning of true friendship — one full of unconditional love, loyalty and endless laughs.
Kayla Relph (right), Jaimie’s childhood best friend.
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You defined the meaning of friendship. Your loyalty was unmatched. I knew that I could go to you any time of the day if I needed to. Your little phrases and how you said certain things will continue to make me smile when I think of them or say them myself.
— Kayla Relph, Jaimie’s childhood best friend
Jaimie with Jenna Ward, Jaimie’s childhood best friend, on their annual trip to Old Forge — a 30 year tradition.
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In our eyes: Laughter. Smiles as big as the lake in front of us. Hands clinched together, we all take the leap as one. These hands will not come undone; they have been through too much: mud pies in the sand, handshakes that will never be forgotten. These hands would never let a tear fall from a sorrow filled face. Hands that cover the whispers that sneak into our ears, secrets of love, life and sadness. Our wrists filled with ‘friendship bracelets’, never to be unraveled. It means too much, these hands made them. These hands stick together, forever.
Forever, together: we jump, we dance, we play, as one.
— Jaimie Magee Lesnick, 2009
Jaimie attended Our Lady of Mercy School, graduating in 2008. During her high school years, Jaimie spent her time volunteering for local organizations that work with children in the community, playing on the basketball and golf teams, and spending time with her close-knit group of friends.
2012
becoming ms. magee.
Jaimie then went on to attend John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, where she studied early childhood education. When she was given the opportunity to begin student-teaching, Jaimie was thrilled to be able to begin shaping the lives of her students. She graduated in 2012, and returned back to her hometown to pursue a Masters degree - one step closer to being able to provide the best education for as many students possible.
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I was fortunate in so many ways to be able to spend four years at John Carroll with Jaimie, but I distinctly remember how her life truly revolved around becoming the best teacher she could be. I always admired how she viewed each day as a student-teacher as an opportunity to make an impact on someone’s life, and she always inspired everyone around her to be the best version of themselves they could be.
— Brittany Mihaila, Jaimie’s college roommate
Jaimie + Brittany, college roommates.
After earning her Masters in Early Childhood Education with a literary focus at Nazareth College in 2014, Jaimie set off to officially fulfill her life-long goal of becoming a teacher. As a second grade teacher at Rochester Prep, she treated each of her students as if they were her own. She led with love, and made sure that her students felt included, supported, and celebrated in the classroom - no matter what they were up against. She created little jingles and chants to help students remember new strategies and ideas. She would find new manipulatives and learning tools that would be beneficial for students and make sure they had the chance to use them.
Her approach to teaching went beyond academia, and did whatever she could to create and implement social emotional learning, too. If a student came to school on a winter morning without a warm coat or pair of mittens, Jaimie had what they needed waiting for them the next day. If a student struggled academically or socially in the classroom, Jaimie took the time to understand their challenge and find ways to make them successful. If a student overcame an obstacle, no matter how big or small, Jaimie would celebrate their accomplishments and made sure they knew just how proud she was. Even after her students moved on to another grade and another classroom, Jaimie continued to care for them, letting them know she was always in their corner.
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The most remarkable thing about Jaimie’s passion for education was simply how palpable it was. Everyone who walked by that room could feel the passion and love she had for the work. Even if it wasn’t the most pressing thing in comparison to what she was dealing with, she made it the most pressing thing. Nothing came between her and her students.
— Jessica Tasciotti, Jaimie’s Co-Teacher and Friend
As her teaching career began to take shape, Jaimie’s life was beginning to look like the one she always imagined. There was just one thing missing — someone to share it with.
Then, on July 26, 2016, Zach Lesnick walked into Jaimie’s favorite bar and into her life, and everything changed. Zach, a mortgage broker who grew up in Rush, was quiet and reserved. Jaimie was lively and energetic. But, on that night, all the noise around them fell quiet, and Jaimie and Zach found themselves talking about everything — their families, their careers, their hopes and dreams. They fell in love quickly — Jaimie fell in love with his dimples and sense of calm, and Zach fell in love with her confidence and the way she could make him laugh — and everyone around them knew that what they were witnessing was a love of a lifetime.
2016
Jaimie finds her soulmate.
November 2, 2018 - Jaimie said ‘YES’!
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I will never forget the moment I knew Zach was the one. I was being rushed to the emergency room and Zach was on his way to the airport for a bachelor party. I got a call from him as I was waiting to be seen, and he told me he was on his way and would be there in a few minutes. He canceled his trip to be with me, and I couldn’t believe that someone would drop everything they were doing to be by my side. They say that hard times always show true colors, and on that day, I realized that through the hard times and the good, I wanted to be by his side for the rest of my life.
— Jaimie Magee Lesnick, on knowing Zach was ‘the one’
Jaimie and Zach, married on August 31, 2019.
Although their love came easy, their relationship had its fair share of challenges as Jaimie began her fight against ovarian cancer. But nothing they faced could ever shake them, and they stood by each other, unconditionally, through it all.
Married on August 31, 2019, Jaimie and Zach not only threw the best party that Rochester has ever seen, but took their first steps into their lives as husband and wife more in love than either thought was possible.
jaimie finds her purpose.
In addition to teaching and surrounding herself with family and friends, Jaimie was passionate about two things: being an auntie, and advocating for a cure.
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When we found out we were expecting our first child, everyone was so excited to welcome the next generation of Magees into our family. When our daughter, Logan, was born, she instantly reminded me of Jaimie with her joyful personality, strong-willed nature and caring spirit. As we welcomed more kids into the family, Jaimie’s love for her nieces and nephew grew stronger each day, which radiated throughout our family and to everyone who knew her.”
— Jordan Magee, Jaimie’s older brother
As the proud auntie “JJ” to Logan, Emerson, Delaney and James, Jaimie set out each day to make sure her nieces and nephew were wrapped in love and always laughing.
Additionally, armed with determination and first-hand experience, Jaimie was dedicated to fighting for a cure and stood beside those who have been impacted by ovarian cancer. She created Team Cancer Ovar It, and each year, gathered all her family and friends each year to raise money and awareness for the fight against ovarian cancer. Through her fundraising campaigns and t-shirt sales, Jaimie raised nearly $10,000 for the Pluta Cancer Center and other advocacy organizations. And, every year, she and her army of supporters painted the town teal.
While Jaimie refused to let cancer define her life, she also beautifully shared the realities of living with ovarian cancer to help others in her shoes, and to make sure that nobody walked alone.
After fighting courageously for many years, Jaimie Magee Lesnick lost her battle with ovarian cancer on September 20, 2020. Although taken from us too soon, her spirit continues to shine through those who knew and loved her, and she continues to teach us valuable lessons every day.
To never give up.
To rise up in the face of hardships, even when it all seems impossible.
To stand up for what you are passionate about.
To find joy in each day.
To laugh from the bottom of your belly.
To love unconditionally.
To help others, always.
Through the work of Jaimie’s Bridge, we are committed to sharing these life lessons we have learned from Jaimie in our communities, and to keeping Jaimie’s legacy alive by building bridges to success for students, teachers and families.
2020
jaimie leaves her mark.
“Live in the moment, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering”
— Jaimie Magee Lesnick