It still doesn’t feel real writing this. The loss of James Strzz has left a space that words can’t quite fill, and a silence where his laughter used to echo. New Jersey lost someone unforgettable, and those of us who knew him lost a brother, a friend, and a light that could never be duplicated.
We met through mutual friends at a time when you were finding your way back into nightlife. I remember seeing it instantly — you were built for it. I had a couple venues under my belt, and being able to give you the opportunity to step back into that world wasn’t just business. It was watching someone step exactly where they belonged and absolutely flourish.
You weren’t just good at what you did — you were magnetic. The energy you carried was effortless. The humor, the presence, the way you could light up a room without even trying. People gravitated toward you naturally. You had this rare combination of confidence and kindness, chaos and heart. You were thoughtful in ways most people never even realized, and hands down the funniest person in any building.
I’ll never forget that day at BJ’s when we were “meal prepping.” Out of nowhere, you pull out that ridiculous fart spray and give me that look — “Trust me.” Next thing I know, I’m spraying it, and a grown man is chasing me through the store while you’re doubled over in the aisle, laughing so hard you could barely breathe. That was you. Pure chaos. Pure joy. A moment so stupid and so perfect that it’s etched in my memory forever.
I’ll hold onto the laughs. The long conversations. The late nights at the venues. The confidence you found when you were in your element. Watching you believe in yourself again was something special. As much as I tried to be there for you, I hope you always knew how much you meant to me too.
James, I know you’re up there smiling down on all of us — probably cracking jokes, probably still causing harmless trouble somewhere beyond our view. That spirit of yours doesn’t just disappear. It lives on in every story we tell and every time we laugh a little harder because of something you would have said.
Love you forever, brother. The memories will always live with me. Rest easy.