This is unfortunate. I can sympathize with JD on this, as I have ran a vanilla server before and it is quite difficult. However, I feel like even though I have been on for a short amount of time I know that this server was a good one especially considering the fact that it has no whitelist. I sincerely hope that an agreement can be made to turn control of the server over. After all, burden of server rental, maintenance and plugin upgrading would fall on the inheritors at any rate. This is no easy task and requires technical skills usually beyond the ability to use Google. I still think it's something that should be considered, however. I think the only caveat would have to be that a trustee of the server who wishes to inherit the server would require the technical knowledge required to operate the server and the funds available to keep the server going. All things considered, I hope that the server can be up and running again soon. I wish JD the best of luck in his academic pursuits and that wisdom will guide his decisions with his server.