Jose Julien

Jose Julien, affectionately known to friends and family as "BoBo" “Bozo” and "Papitou” passed away unexpectedly on May 4, 2026, at his residence in Haines City, Florida. He was born on September 12, 1974, in Port au Prince, Haiti, to Marie - Jose Julien (née Moreau) and Joseph Arnaut Julien — proudly carrying his mother's name as his namesake — and was raised surrounded by the love and the warmth of his extended family.Jose moved with his mother to the United States at 6 years old. He attended elementary school at a French school in Manhattan, before the family moved to Brooklyn and eventually Long Island, New York, where he completed high school. He went on to earn a degree in Psychology, followed by a degree in Nursing — the beginning of a remarkable 25-year career. Jose brought his full self to that career: he worked in geriatric care, traveled the country as a travel nurse, and found a particular calling in medical IT system implementation, helping healthcare institutions build the systems that would serve countless patients long after he moved on.What defined Jose in every room he entered was something those who loved him recognized immediately: he believed deeply in people’s potential - often before they believed in themselves. He gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, approached life as an eternal optimist, and carried a humility that made him feel like a lifelong friend to anyone he met. He never truly met a stranger.That gift for nurturing others showed up long before he had children of his own. He was an active and joyful presence in the life of his younger sister, Christie, pouring into that role with the same warmth and care that would later define him as a father. He was a devoted partner to Marcell. They met as teenagers, chose each other then, and never stopped. Theirs was not a love that developed over time — it was a love that simply always was, growing deeper with every year, every challenge, and every joy they faced together. In the truest sense, they were partners. Jose loved his children, Jocelle and Noah, deeply and unconditionally — and they were the fullest expression of a love he had been practicing his whole life.Jose was a reflective and spiritual man who had a deep love for music. He was quite talented at playing the guitar and enjoyed everything from classic rock to heavy metal to hip hop and R&B. He had the great joy of seeing Prince perform live in concert — a memory that stayed with him always. Jose also loved football and basketball, having played the former in high school, and the latter at any pick up court he could find. He had a particular affection for science fiction, with favorites including The Hobbit and Doctor Who. And he had a boundless heart for animals and people alike.Jose is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Arnaut Julien. He is survived by his beloved wife of 24 years, Marcell "Cecell"; his mother, Marie-Jose Julien; his aunt and Godmother Gigi; his aunts Tancia, Yanick, and Nicole, his Uncle Alix, and his Godfather Peralte, his sister, Christie "Kiki"; and his children, Jocelle and Noah.A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00pm, with formal remarks starting at 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City, Florida. Family and friends are welcome to attend at any point from 1:00pm -4:00pm.In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation to Hope for Haiti in Jose’s Name-https://give.hopeforhaiti.com/JoseJulien.