Justin Constantine, Lieutenant Colonel

Justin Constantine passed away at 52 years of age on May 5, 2022, following a two-year battle with prostate cancer.

A graduate of Fairfax High School (1988), Justin continued his education at James Madison University (1992) and the University of Denver Law School (1998), where following his second year, he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

In life, Justin was a special person to so many — a husband, a son, a brother, an uncle, a rugby teammate, a highly regarded motivational speaker, a lawyer, a childhood friend, a golf partner, a fraternity brother, a veterans' advocate, an author, a business executive, and a steadfast Marine.

His life story of surviving and prospering following a grievous wound - shot in the head by a sniper in Iraq - inspired so many. In his public presentations concerning that fateful day, Justin would regularly highlight the navy corpsman - George Grant - who saved his life performing an emergency tracheotomy on the battlefield, and the Marines who acted with unwavering courage to get him to an air medical transport as quickly as possible. In the sixteen years since his war injury and recuperation, Justin endured so much, but would always comment, "Don't feel sorry for me, I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

Justin led an extremely active life. As a boy, living in Vienna and London, he skied the Alps of Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland, camped in Budapest, Prague, Sarajevo and Cannes, and traveled through Spain. Summers were spent working and playing on his grandparents' farm in Tuscany. Justin met his wife, Dahlia, while they were both studying Spanish in Argentina. Together, they traveled the world - including a trip to Egypt where he met the entire Hamza Clan and rode a camel. As he moved on from his wounding, Justin met his idols and walked with greats; he spoke to literally thousands of people in person and on television. He authored books and started for-profit and nonprofit companies. He never let a day go to waste.

Justin's recognitions and awards were many. In 2012, the Virginia State Legislature passed a resolution highlighting Justin's continued support of veterans and other wounded warriors. President Obama named Justin a Champion of Change for Veterans. At Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center in 2015, he received the Lincoln award for his activities on behalf of veterans. And, in 2017, he was presented the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award for shaping attitudes and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

In addition to his full time, successful profession of Inspirational Speaker, Justin found time to give two TED Talks, to serve as a Presidential Leadership Scholar, to give the 2012 Commencement Address at his alma mater, James Madison University, and he was selected as the honor graduate of his class at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He furthered his legal education by earning a Master of Law degree from Georgetown University Law Center (2014); he was a Member of the National Board of the Wounded Warrior Project, and, in 2018, he accepted position of Chief Business Development Officer of JobPaths, a firm dedicated to assisting veterans transitioning from the U.S. military.

The last six months of his life were not easy, but Justin never lost hope, following a modified workout routine and making plans for the future until the last moment. When he passed, he was surrounded by the love of his life, Dahlia and her parents, his family, and his friends. Justin was fiercely loyal, incredibly compassionate, and, with his wonderful sense of humor, a tremendously fun person to be around— always smiling, even during his darkest days.

Justin is, and always will be, acutely missed by Dahlia, the entire Hamza family, his parents Rudolph and Judith D. Constantine, his sister Brooks, and his elder brother Roftiel and his family of Liane and Ashton.

The poet and philosopher Thomas Campbell once wrote, "To live in the hearts of others is never to die." Justin will no doubt live on in the countless lives he touched. Semper Fi.

Published by The Washington Post on Jul. 10, 2022.

To see Justin’s profound impact on others, visit Justin’s legacy website.