Jessica Ruth Gaines

Jessica Ruth Gaines AKA Amarok Gaines died peacefully at UC Davis Medical Center on January 6, 2025 after a 2 year battle with cancer. They were surrounded by family.

Jessica was born in Vallejo, Ca on May 19,1988 and spent her early years in Napa. When the family moved to Davis in 1992, the warm summers meant time at Davis swimming pools. An avid swimmer, Jessica participated in the Davis aquadarts swim club for 10 years and was an All American in swimming and water polo while at Davis Senior High School. She graduated from Davis High and Da Vinci Academy in 2006.

After graduation, Jessica attended the University of Washington in Seattle on a swim scholarship. She was nationally ranked in the 100 yard backstroke, but decided to give up swimming and focus on her education as well as a gender transition to male. They returned home to attend Sacramento city college, CSU Sacramento and San Francisco State where they majored in fine arts with an emphasis in printmaking and a minor in dance. 

Jess was an accomplished violinist and artist. He worked as a printing lab assistant at Myrtle Press in Sacramento and taught printmaking workshops in Woodland. His artwork appeared in art shows in San Francisco and Sacramento. He was a compassionate and loving person who strived to improve the lives of the unhoused and transgender youth.

His adopted cats were the loves of his life.

Jess is survived by his parents, Kenneth Casey and Sara Anderson Gaines, his brother Gustaf Gaines and aunts, uncles and cousins.

A private memorial ceremony was held in the Redwood Grove attended by close friends and family.