Edmund “Jay” Mastrianni, 34, a resident of Raleigh, died Oct. 24, 2011, at Wake Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was born March 11, 1977, in St Albans, Vt., and lived in Swanton, Vt., before moving to North Carolina, where he graduated from Washington High School in 1995.

Jay was a member of his high school swim team, earning four letters and the Coach’s Choice Award. Jay was also passionate about animals. He was employed as a Customer Service Manager at Harris Teeter. Jay was a genuine, compassionate person who was never afraid to be himself.

He is survived by his mother, Martha Chambers, and sister, Ruth M. Thompson, of Vermont, an uncle, Edmund Gimpel of California, and an extended network of family and friends.

Services will be announced at a later date with interment in So Burlington, Vt. and Duluth, Minn. Donations honoring his memory and fabulous spirit may be made to Wake County, N.C. or Chittenden County, Vt., humane societies.