James had almost completed his first semester as a freshman at Geneva High School when, on December 8, 2023, he collapsed at swim practice and suffered a catastrophic cerebral hemorrhage. He was airlifted to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, where he underwent two brain surgeries during the following week. Sadly, James did not recover and passed away on Sunday, December 17.

His cause of death was attributed to AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation), a brain condition that results in ruptured arteries, often without manifesting prior symptoms.

Photo: Left, big brother Sean and James at their swim coach’s, Jennifer Heyer-Olson, practice pool in 2022. The brothers were swim team members of the Geneva High School/West Chicago Co-Op.