Jay Gatsby aged 32, a young, wealthy, influential, and life-changing man in Long Island, died last week in his mansion, after an armed confrontation with mechanic George Wilson, a resident of the valley of ashes. Gatsby passed away peacefully in his yard with no struggle. Many knew him, but few knew him. His friends described him as having a "rare smile with a quality of eternal reassurance in it" (Fitzgerald, 42). Born James Gatz in North Dakota, Gatsby began his life with very little. He started out heroically fighting for his country in the war, where Gatsby exclaims "I joined the army right after they sent the gas to the front. I was in the third division, and the war was over, I was promoted to major"(Fitzgerald 75), after which he yearned for something more. He made sure he worked hard, starting from absolutely nothing to create a new person and a fortune for himself. He created and invested his entire life into several businesses, and they paid off in the long run. Due to the success of his business ventures, he turned himself into one of Long Island’s most famous figures, most well-known for hosting his extravagant parties filled with music, lights, and guests from all over. Despite the fun however, Gatsby rarely participated in these party’s and rather preferred sitting back and watching the fun commence. Gatsby’s life, however, was most notably guided by his love for Daisy Buchanan, a woman he met years ago during his service, and never stopped loving. He described her by claiming "I've never met another woman like her" (Fitzgerald 80). From the moment he left her everything he did—earning his fortune, building his mansion, and throwing his famous parties—was an attempt to win her back. But no matter how hard he tried, his dream of being with Daisy never came to true fruition. His death was sudden and tragic, marking the end of a life focused on hope and determination. A small funeral will be held at his mansion, attended by only a few people who truly knew him. Very little is known of Gatsby’s family, besides his father who will be attending his funeral. Jay Gatsby will be remembered as a dreamer, making someone who truly believed in reaching for something better, even when it was just out of reach. May his story influence and represent a life well lived, and may he model for others what he wanted for himself; Love.