Jacob Dermott, an 18-year-old student and athlete from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 28, 2025. However, the cause of his sudden demise remains unknown.
Known to his friends as “Derm,” Jacob was a beloved member of the Northampton Area High School community.
Jacob grew up in Bethlehem and attended Northampton Area High School. From a young age, he loved sports, excelling in football and track and field.
To support his family, his friend Noah Roke started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs, with the beneficiary being Fawn Mollenkof.
So far, the fundraiser, titled “In Loving Memory of Jacob Dermott,” has raised over $14,000, showing the community’s love and respect for Jacob.
His friends described him as funny, intelligent, and always striving to be his best self, writing:
He meant so much to so many people. For us, he was a funny, athletic, and intelligent person to feel comfortable being around. Derm, as we all call him, would always go the extra mile to help where he could. He was a considerate, reliable person whose loyalty was unwavering.
GoFundMe
People shared heartfelt messages, remembering him as a loyal friend and a source of positivity.
Tonya Snyder Reph shared the GoFundMe campaign link; however, people questioned its legitimacy, reporting her as a scammer and calling it nothing but clout.
Frustated Tonya shared her agitation on Facebook, writing:
So apparently people of Northampton News and Nonsense think the GFM for Jacob Dermott is a scam and I’m a scammer.
Tonya Snyder Reph
Sad to think there are people in this world like that. He was someone I know and friends with my son and a part of this community and played FB in Northampton. It is a valid GFM
One comment by Ann Scarl read:
Did Northampton News and Nonsense block you too? I work with Fawn Gevaudan and I remember when she took Jacob in. I shared it also and now I have no access to the page.
Ann Scarl mentions working with Fawn Gevaudan and recalls when she “took Jacob in,” suggesting that Fawn Gevaudan (also referred to as Fawn Mollenkopf in the fundraiser organized by Noah Roke) is Jacob Dermott’s mother or acted in a maternal role, possibly as an adoptive or foster mother.
However, the precise dynamic of Jacob and Fawn’s relationship remains unknown.
Likewise, Victoria Mollenkof, a relative, also defended the fundraiser’s legitimacy, urging others to respect the family’s grief, saying:
Just so y’all know. I’m related to this young man and it is not fake. It is 100% real. Now leave people alone to grieve in peace. I certainly Hope u dont have to go through it one day. It’s not pretty..
While his family and loved ones are grieving in private, they also find comfort in knowing he impacted several people’s lives.
So far, details about his memorial service have yet to be published by his family.
During this difficult time, we pray for the strength of his family, friends, and loved ones.
Rest Easy, Jacob Dermott!
