How did the death of Jack Kerouac’s brother Gerard affect him?

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Portrait of Jack Kerouac, American novelist and poet, looking over his shoulder in a collared shirt, circa 1965. — Jack Kerouac American novelist and poet Jack Kerouac, c. 1965.

The death of Jack Kerouac’s brother, Gerard, in 1926 from rheumatic fever was a profound loss that deeply influenced the author throughout his life. Following Gerard's passing at age nine, Kerouac developed a lasting belief that his brother was acting as a spiritual guide, watching over him much like a saint or an angel.1