Services Planned for Jean Baptista, Friends Seeking Donations

The wake will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at

To help subsidize the cost of Baptista's services, friends are collecting donations. Donations can be made online at https://www.wepay.com/donate/36089

Although the exact cause of death remains unclear, Delaware Online is reporting that Baptista and a friend – 25-year-old Christopher Valentine of Hockessin, Delaware – had not been seen since midnight on Sunday, when they left a friends house and texted another friend that they were "running through the hurricane" to Valentine's home, approximately 2.5 miles away.

On Facebook, Baptista posted at 11:50 pm. on Sunday: "Running thru this — with Chris Valentine at Hurricane Irene" via his cell phone. The next day, Baptista's brother Nicolas began posting on Facebook asking friends if they'd seen Jean. 

Around 2 a.m. Monday, Delaware Online posted a story saying the pair was missing.

At 4 p.m., the site broke the news that the bodies had been found, and friends began expressing their condolensces on Baptista's Facebook page.

Baptista studied Civil Engineering at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE and lived with his family on James Avenue. At Johnson, he played lacrosse and soccer. 

Baptista's obituary listed on the Walter L. Johnson website is as follows:

Jean Paul Baptista

Born in Elizabeth, NJ on Jan. 10, 1986
Departed on Aug. 29, 2011 and resided in Clark, NJ.
Visitation: Sunday, Sep. 4, 2011 Cemetery: Private
   Jean Paul Baptista, 25, of Clark, entered into eternal rest on Monday, August 29, 2011.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the Visitations: 

Friday, September 2 from 9 – 12 noon at the Korean Methodist Church, 717 Loveville Rd., Hockessin, DE 19707. A Service will be held at 12:00 noon.

Sunday, September 4 from 2 – 4 pm at the Walter J. Johnson Funeral Home, 803 Raritan Rd., Clark. 

The final disposition will be private. 

Mr. Baptista was born in Elizabeth and lived there, before moving to Clark 16 years ago. In 2004 he graduated from Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, where he participated in Track, Soccer and Lacrosse. He then went on to the University of Delaware and graduated on the Dean's List with a Degree in Civil Engineering. He was currently a member of a Lacrosse League and an indoor Soccer League.

Mr. Baptista was employed as a Project Manager for Rencor Inc. of Somerville for 2 years.

Mr. Baptista was beloved son of Mr. Alberto and Mrs. Magda (Escobar) Baptista of Clark and the dearest brother of Mr. Nicholas Baptista of Elizabeth, Mrs. Gabriela Baptista and her husband Oskar Aparicio of CT and Mr. Estavan Baptista of Clark and loving uncle of Oskar. He was the treasured grandson of Mrs. Maria Olga Flores of CT.