About 80 members of the car audio industry gathered virtually Thursday night to celebrate the life of Jay Kent, who passed away this month, a man still in his prime, who left this world too soon.
Professionally, Kent was Eastern Regional Sales Manager for ESCORT, Inc and he had held posts for companies including NAV-TV, Big 5 Electronics, Valor, Powerbass and Eclipse.
Industry members, many still shocked at his passing, recounted a man who befriended countless members of the industry, mentoring people along the way, seeming to appear when they most needed a shoulder to cry on, or a kick in the pants. He alternately aggravated people with a gruff exterior and then winned them over as lifelong friends.
He was part of the original 12 Volt Insiders online forum that established an abiding bond among a group of retailers and industry members, and he played a key role in creating that bond.
People described Kent as genuine and caring with a heart of gold. He was the life of the party, and helped start a networking event over beer at KnowledgeFest trade shows.
The outpouring of grief on the zoom memorial for Kent and on social media the preceding week, seemed to have the secondary effect of confirming that unique aspect of the 12 volt industry, which is a love for the industry and its members. Kent helped bring people together and the industry is better for that.
The “celebration of life” memorial was led by Mark Miller of Westminster Speed & Sound, MD with the technical assistance of Chris Cook at MEA. Industry members were joined by Kent’s family members including his parents, his daughter and fiancee.
You can watch the memorial here.
Only the good die young!!!!!!