Several of Jesse's fellow alumni share their sentiments:

"Jessie was a kind, passionate, driven, person whom I respected a great deal. He was one of the most naturally gifted people I have known, but his work ethic and desire to excel were equal to his god-given abilities. I remember bunking with him in the yurt my first few days at COA and being struck by the gentle tone in which he spoke and his laid-back manner, so easy to get along with. He will be missed."
-Ryan Ruggiero '96

"Jesse and I took one class together at COA, but I have such fond memories of him.  He always made people smile when he was near and had such a profound happiness within him that not many people possess.  He touched a lot of people's lives while he was at COA, and I know that he will be missed and remembered as the terrific person he was."
-Jen Aylesworth '94

After knowing him for over a decade, he was, and is, a mystery to me.  He was an unassuming but powerful presence.  In remembering him, I imagine many will recall the intensity and integrity of his work and his talent for landscape design and stonework.  There are countless stonewalls and walkways that stand as a testament to him and hold the memory of his determination to get it just right.   But, most recently, what stands out to me was his quiet dedication to family - making Christmas presents in his shop, mowing the Tucker farm fields, or going ice fishing with his brother Noah - home was important to him.  He is still there in many ways, in the fields, forest, and stone where he spent so much time.
-Margaret Youngs '96

"Jessie was an inspiration to me as a student in Isabel's classes.  He was so self assured in his quite peaceful way.  I'll never forget the video he put together for our presentations class where he put my nervous hip swaying  to Elvis and repeatedly showed Jaime taking down his pants to give his presentation."
-Oliver Carley '96

"When I read the email, I cried my eyes out.  It hurt deep down in my soul. I attended COA the same years Jesse did, and in fact lived with Troy at the Rodick street Student Housing my first year.  Through those guys, I  met Curry...  All three were like brothers to me.  The best friends  anyone could ever wish for.  I was inspired by their infectious imagination and immense enthusiasm.  I truly respected and admired  Jesse's skills, knowledge, and artistic technique.  I would have trusted him with my life and anything else in a heartbeat.  Even though I haven't seen him since graduation, maybe once the following year, there is a great feeling of loss in my life...

But he will forever inspire me, and bring me joy with the fond memories we cultivated during our years at COA.  He will continue to feed my fire of creating and learning and striving to be a good person and do the best I can.  Words can't express how Jesse affected and enriched my life."
-Ethan Balmer '95

"Jesse Tucker and I started on the same day at COA. I had just given my 'show and tell' about the landscape design studio I'd be teaching when he came up and said basically "I know I don't have the prerequisites for that course but I've been building landscapes for houses my father designs and landscape architecture is what I'm going to do as a career and I have to take your course now.” Jesse took that course and virtually every course I taught over the next four years. In that time he designed the building that is now David Camp's office, built the steps that lead down into the Turrets garden and worked with his classmates to repoint the curved stone bench, install the curb and bricks under it, and excavate the fountain. The beautiful dry streambed made of moss covered rocks in the Wild Gardens of Acadia that looks like it's been there for a hundred years was completely his creation.

Jesse was part of a group fondly referred to as "the boys”. He, along with Troy Ireland and Curry Caputo would tear around on their mountain bikes, up and down the stairs to Newlin Garden. They all had long curly brown hair and some couldn't tell one from the other. But Jesse was the gentle one with the infectious laugh and the permanent half smile, immensely talented, kind, thoughtful, and much loved.

After graduation, Jesse learned to unleash his drawing and design abilities, went on to get a master's in landscape architecture at Rhode Island School of Design, and won a national design competition. He later designed and installed the freshwater stream and lake bed at Biosphere 2 in Arizona.  Eventually he returned to the state he loved, Maine, and to his passion for working with stone to create exquisite stone walls, terraces and designs for clients.  Jessie will forever be in our hearts."
-Isabel Mancinelli, COA faculty member in community and regional planning, landscape architecture