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Every superhero has an origin story. JJ’s begins at a clothing store on Washington Street.
On Sunday morning, the 4-year-old — who has been battling a brain tumor and wearing superhero shirts to his treatments — will walk into Marblehead Outfitters at 112 Washington St., find a costume waiting for him and put it on. Then he’ll spend the day saving the town.
Not bad for a preschooler.
Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island is granting its 11,000th wish on March 29 — a milestone representing more than four decades and 11,000 families served — by transforming Marblehead into the setting for a superhero adventure with Jackson “JJ” Weiss at the center. The public is invited to cheer “Super JJ” as he completes missions at local businesses, confronts a villain and celebrates at Seaside Park on Atlantic Avenue.
JJ’s wish also launches World Wish Month, an annual April campaign to raise awareness and support for Make-A-Wish nationwide.
JJ was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in late 2024 after a visit to a local emergency room for persistent headaches. He was airlifted to Boston, where he began treatment immediately and underwent an 11-hour brain surgery just three days later. Over the past 15 months, JJ has endured high-dose chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and radiation. Following complications from surgery, he was mute for six weeks and had to relearn how to use his arms and legs.
Now, even as he continues intensive treatment, JJ is strong and active. On his good days, he can be found biking and riding scooters with his twin brother, Luke.
JJ’s family has always seen him as a superhero, affectionately calling him “Super JJ.” When he was too weak to play, JJ created and listened to superhero stories, developing his own Super JJ character. What began as bedtime tales became a powerful coping tool during his treatment. During procedures, Super JJ heads out on a rescue mission, always saving the day. His preschool teacher even wrote a story featuring the character, with cancer cast as the villain.
For his wish, JJ wants to be a real superhero for a day. His mom, Sam Weiss, has said JJ’s wish day will be a chance to celebrate his strength and bravery and to give him even more reason to keep fighting.
March 29 proclaimed Superhero day
The Marblehead Select Board voted to proclaim March 29 “Superhero Day” in honor of Super JJ and in partnership with local businesses and Make-A-Wish. Members described JJ as a loving child obsessed with superheroes and outlined the day as a community rescue mission and scavenger hunt through the downtown.
The itinerary reads like a comic book — complete with a villain, a mentor and a faux newscast.
According to the event road map, JJ gets alerted at 10 a.m. when Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island assistant wish program manager Maddie Delande, a Marblehead native, arrives at the Weiss family’s home and plays a video letting Super JJ know his help is needed to save the town. The broadcast was produced by a team at NBC10 Boston.
He suits up at 10:30 a.m. at Marblehead Outfitters, then reports to headquarters at 10:45 a.m. at Mud Puddle Toys, 1 Pleasant St. — because if you’re going to run a superhero operation, a toy store is the place to do it. There he’ll meet Super Coach, played by Make-A-Wish wish coordinator Colin Vigneault, and hear about his first mission.
JJ won’t be working alone. His teammates are his twin brother, Luke, 4, and sister Ellie, 18 months. Their costumes were custom-made by Ana Penuelas.
Missions follow at Saltwater Bookstore, 134 Washington St., at 11:15 a.m., where Super JJ will wake sleeping employees and have story time, and at Shubie’s Marketplace, 16 Atlantic Ave., at 11:45 a.m., where he’ll rouse the cook and fuel up with a snack.
The villain Triple Z
Then the adventure heads to the water. The villain is Triple Z, an evildoer who has been lulling townspeople to sleep with evil lullabies so he can take over Marblehead. Triple Z is played by Dave DeJohn, a former professional wrestler and director of operations for Hannaford, which supports Make-A-Wish in several ways.
JJ’s final mission comes at 12:30 p.m. at Chandler Hovey Park on Lighthouse Lane, where he will capture Triple Z. Members of the Marblehead Police Department will be on hand to haul the villain away in handcuffs. At 12:45 p.m., JJ and officers escort Triple Z to a holding cell at the Police Department, 11 Gerry St.
A celebration follows at 1 p.m. at Seaside Park, where community members are invited to a “press conference” thanking Super JJ for his heroic efforts.
Attendees will include JJ’s family — mom Samantha, dad Luke, brother Luke and sister Ellie — along with Make-A-Wish staff including CEO Sean Holleran and chief mission officer Amy Carroll, and Marblehead selectman Jim Zisson.
JJ’s first two missions are indoors, but cheering squads outside are welcome. The final mission and celebration are outdoors. All times are approximate and subject to change. Rain location is Marblehead Veterans Middle School, 217 Pleasant St.
The businesses along the route have leaned all the way in.
Ayala Pignato, an employee at Marblehead Outfitters, described the day as a chance “to help, bring joy and show that there’s joy, and that support and that this whole town comes together to support all people and children,” adding she hopes it will be “really happy and promising for this little guy.”
Pignato isn’t even scheduled to work that day. She’s coming in anyway.
“I just love that he’s gonna suit up here,” she said.
At Mud Puddle Toys, owner Cassie Sturdivant has deeper roots with Make-A-Wish. The organization approached around Christmas 2024 about partnering, and “we decided to sort of jump in both feet,” she said. That collaboration led to a Make-A-Wish day the following May for a prior wish child named Sophia, raising about $6,000.
This year, the toy store is JJ’s superhero headquarters — which Sturdivant said means being there and available for him.
The experience has reshaped how she sees the job. As a community hub, the store hears about everything — new babies, birthdays, big moves. It also hears about the hard stuff.
“Working with Make A Wish has made me more keenly aware of the necessity of toys in children’s lives, that it’s not a luxury, it’s not something nice to have,” Sturdivant said. “Toys are and play as an equal part of growing up and being a kid.”
The community response caught her off guard. During last year’s campaign, people walked in, donated and walked right back out.
“I think that generosity is always what makes Marblehead special,” Sturdivant said. “I love all these kids in town so much, and I am so privileged to get to see them grow up. There’s so many ways to show up for kids.”
The store is also selling stuffed bears from Douglas, a New Hampshire company, for $20 each, with $10 from every bear going to Make-A-Wish.
At the Marblehead Police Department, officers are readying their own chapter. In an email, Chief Dennis King called it the department’s second Make-A-Wish event in the past year. Sgt. Tim Morley has served as liaison, and King said officers have a couple of things ready for JJ.
“It makes us all feel safer having a Super Hero in Town,” King wrote. “Knowing you are helping someone facing such adversity and making a difference in their life is a part of police service that is not taken lightly.”
“The strength that JJ has shown and the support his family and now Make A Wish have provided to make this happen,” King added, “are great examples of how you handle even the worse things thrown at you in life.”
Transportation for the day will be provided by Michael’s Limousine of Peabody and North Shore resident Joe Tabbi, who has a custom race car.
On Sunday, the costume will be hanging at Marblehead Outfitters. Headquarters will be ready at Mud Puddle Toys. Saltwater Bookstore, Shubie’s Marketplace and Chandler Hovey Park will have missions waiting. The police department will have a cell with the villain’s name on it. And Seaside Park will be set for a party.
All the town needs is its hero. He’s 4.
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