Jason Thomas Gerdsmeier had a passion for writing and meeting the homeless and learning their stories, his mother said.

“His dream was to make a place where people could heal by helping others,” said Pauline Gerdsmeier.

Mr. Gerdsmeier died unexpectedly on Thursday, March 1, 2018, in Crossville, Tennessee. He was 28.

He was born on Dec. 28, 1989, the son of Pauline and the late Russell Gerdsmeier. He attended the Greenville schools and, as a kid, liked to ride his BMX, his mother said.

Mr. Gerdsmeier always loved music, said his sister, Jessica Hartenbaum. “He found my mom’s guitar when he was 16 and taught himself to play,” she said. “He would play beautiful music for hours and hours and never grow tired of it.”

Mr. Gerdsmeier worked on a farm in Virginia and also worked on farms in Florida and Tennessee, his mother said, as part of WWOOF, World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms, which links volunteers with organic farmers. “He was without contact with us for many years,” said Mrs. Gerdsmeier.

Describing her son’s personality, she said, “He was sensitive, and tried to get you to laugh … He was kind-hearted. He would help animals; he would help anyone.”

He was also interested in learning about different religions and why people followed them, his mother said. “He would always ask questions,” said Mrs. Gerdsmeier. “He liked to learn about philosophy. He was very eager to learn … He’d call his sister and have three-hour conversations about all he read.”

She concluded, “He was very, very smart but he was lost in this illness.”

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Jason Thomas Gerdsmeier is survived by his wife, Shawna Gerdsmeier of Crossville, Tennessee; by his mother, Pauline Gerdsmeier of Medusa; by his sister, Jessica Hartenbaum, and her husband, Steve, and their son, Liam, all of East Greenbush; by his brother, Zachary Gerdsmeier, and his wife, Allison, and their son, Nicoli Hunter, all of Clifton Park; by his grandmother, Isabelle Edwards of Brentwood, New Hampshire; and by many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

The family will hold a private service for him.

Memorial contributions may be made to Equinox Inc., 500 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer