Even now, a day rarely goes by that I'm not reminded of Jeff's absence, or how much my universe and perhaps the universe as a whole was changed by some stupid freak incident.
In writing this, I find it's appropriate that it's hard to describe Jeff with a label...you know like, "he was this kind of guy." He certainly always made an impression, and to borrow from Frank, he always did it his way. I have so many great and hysterical memories and stories of Jeff. I think his fun-loving, energetic, adventurous genius had that effect on people.
I'm convinced the world lost a visionary, great leader, big time inventor or something like that, before he got a chance to become one. My wife always tells me that things happen for a reason. Jeff's loss is the moment in my life when I couldn't really subscribe to that belief, because even if it did happen for a reason it was a bad one and I'm super pissed. I'm reminded of him often and it still makes me sad.
Jeff died on his 20th birthday hiking/camping in Juneau, AK in June 1992. He had been traveling around the country, following the Dead in a VW Bus. Spent some time in Missoula, MT and met Brian (Huss) in Juneau with the hopes of landing a fishing job for the summer. We had talked about going to school together the next semester (but who knows) and of somehow taking the world by storm.
He was a great friend and a great person, and very missed. Peace man, hope to see you someday.
Cliff has managed to find the perfect words. Jeff was extremely bright and sarcastic and kind and enthusiastic!! Jeff and I shared many classes over the years and we typically sat near one another as the teachers alphabetized the class... I saw Jeff stand up for kids and I saw him in a match of words with others. Jeff liked the debate and he loved life! I remember seeing him just before he left and checking out his VW van at Denny's... He was doing what he had always dreamed of for adventure. He was excited and talked as quickly as ever... I remember going home and just being in awe that he was actually doing what he'd wanted for so long.
Even now I cannot hold back the tears when I think that he is gone. He could always cheer me up and make me laugh (sometimes while I was crying...) He made sure I was safe on many occasions and he assured that every class with him was FUN... :o) Maybe not for the teacher... ;o)
Daily I am reminded that the life we are to live should be our own and to be the person we were made to be. Jeff lived that life well!!
Jeff was one of the first people I became friends with when I moved to Tucson. I was seated behind him in English class my first year at Cross Junior High and he always made me laugh. I would run into his grandmother occasionally when she would come for check-ups at my dad's office (he was her ophthalmologist). She was always glad to have someone to talk to who knew Jeff and she missed him very much.
Not quite sure why I am writing this but I felt it important to say that Jeff was my first French Kiss. And if you're a girl you know how important that is. :) So I will think of him for the rest of my life as not only a big "first" but as a guy worth being my "first".
Jeff was my friend. I have two stories about Jeff that still make me smile today. I think the statute of limitations has run out on one of the stories, so here goes...
I think it was Junior year, time for the Airband Competition. I had a couple of George Michaels songs I was doing (pre-gay George) as a nerd. I had my part all figured out, but I needed a girl to sing to. I think I was just talking about it, not asking anyone, and Jeff goes, "Ill do it." So he dressed up as a girl. An ugly girl. For me. Knowing full-well it looked stupid and it was obvious he was far from feminine. I'll never forget that.
I believe it was Sophmore year. My friend Duane was dating a young Mormon chick. Every Tuesday night they would go and watch her friends play vollyball in a church league. The games were played in the gym at Cross Jr. High, our old stompin' grounds!!! Duane told me about this league and I went with him one time, just to hang out. About 6 courts of girls, ages 8-16 or so, all playing games of volleyball. Somebody came up with a brilliant plan to streak the vollyball games. And somebody suggested I do it, because I guess I was insane at the time. So I said sure. The plan was simple: Walk into the boys bathroom. Drop my drawers and leave them. Streak the games. Run out the back. Again, like before, Jeff goes, "I'll do it with you." I said, "Are you sure?" He said, "yep." So, day of the games, we walked in the gym. Gazed across the courts at what seemed like hundreds of young Mormon girls (and a gallery of our friends, knowing what was about to happen) and took a left into the restrooms and stashed our clothes in the trash. We put on ski masks for good measure. Tennis shoes, skimasks and weiners. I think I came running out first, followed by Jeff. We tried to scream but more than likely they just heard our hystarical laughter. We ran fast and I still recall hearing two things: vollyballs bouncing and some lady over the loudspeaker telling the girls, "Ladies...concentrate on your games." OMG it was absolutely hysterical. We hit the back doors, ran across the field buck naked and into the neighborhood behind the school where Jeff's car was parked.
He was the best partner in crime!
I still can't believe he's gone. Jeff was the Big Lebowski, "The Dude", years before that movie came out. He came to visit Duane and I in Flagstaff just before he disappeared. From what I remember they never found him after he went for a swim in a river in AK. They just found his clothes. Same thing they found in the bathroom after that Mormon vollyball game.
Cliff Plank
Even now, a day rarely goes by that I'm not reminded of Jeff's absence, or how much my universe and perhaps the universe as a whole was changed by some stupid freak incident.In writing this, I find it's appropriate that it's hard to describe Jeff with a label...you know like, "he was this kind of guy." He certainly always made an impression, and to borrow from Frank, he always did it his way. I have so many great and hysterical memories and stories of Jeff. I think his fun-loving, energetic, adventurous genius had that effect on people.
I'm convinced the world lost a visionary, great leader, big time inventor or something like that, before he got a chance to become one. My wife always tells me that things happen for a reason. Jeff's loss is the moment in my life when I couldn't really subscribe to that belief, because even if it did happen for a reason it was a bad one and I'm super pissed. I'm reminded of him often and it still makes me sad.
Jeff died on his 20th birthday hiking/camping in Juneau, AK in June 1992. He had been traveling around the country, following the Dead in a VW Bus. Spent some time in Missoula, MT and met Brian (Huss) in Juneau with the hopes of landing a fishing job for the summer. We had talked about going to school together the next semester (but who knows) and of somehow taking the world by storm.
He was a great friend and a great person, and very missed. Peace man, hope to see you someday.
Lorraine Shadwick (Krajewski)
Cliff has managed to find the perfect words. Jeff was extremely bright and sarcastic and kind and enthusiastic!! Jeff and I shared many classes over the years and we typically sat near one another as the teachers alphabetized the class... I saw Jeff stand up for kids and I saw him in a match of words with others. Jeff liked the debate and he loved life! I remember seeing him just before he left and checking out his VW van at Denny's... He was doing what he had always dreamed of for adventure. He was excited and talked as quickly as ever... I remember going home and just being in awe that he was actually doing what he'd wanted for so long.Even now I cannot hold back the tears when I think that he is gone. He could always cheer me up and make me laugh (sometimes while I was crying...) He made sure I was safe on many occasions and he assured that every class with him was FUN... :o) Maybe not for the teacher... ;o)
Daily I am reminded that the life we are to live should be our own and to be the person we were made to be. Jeff lived that life well!!
Jesslyn Snow (Weaver)
Jeff was one of the first people I became friends with when I moved to Tucson. I was seated behind him in English class my first year at Cross Junior High and he always made me laugh. I would run into his grandmother occasionally when she would come for check-ups at my dad's office (he was her ophthalmologist). She was always glad to have someone to talk to who knew Jeff and she missed him very much.Renee Sieminski (Deeter)
Not quite sure why I am writing this but I felt it important to say that Jeff was my first French Kiss. And if you're a girl you know how important that is. :) So I will think of him for the rest of my life as not only a big "first" but as a guy worth being my "first".
Shane Engels
Jeff was my friend. I have two stories about Jeff that still make me smile today. I think the statute of limitations has run out on one of the stories, so here goes...
I think it was Junior year, time for the Airband Competition. I had a couple of George Michaels songs I was doing (pre-gay George) as a nerd. I had my part all figured out, but I needed a girl to sing to. I think I was just talking about it, not asking anyone, and Jeff goes, "Ill do it." So he dressed up as a girl. An ugly girl. For me. Knowing full-well it looked stupid and it was obvious he was far from feminine. I'll never forget that.
I believe it was Sophmore year. My friend Duane was dating a young Mormon chick. Every Tuesday night they would go and watch her friends play vollyball in a church league. The games were played in the gym at Cross Jr. High, our old stompin' grounds!!! Duane told me about this league and I went with him one time, just to hang out. About 6 courts of girls, ages 8-16 or so, all playing games of volleyball. Somebody came up with a brilliant plan to streak the vollyball games. And somebody suggested I do it, because I guess I was insane at the time. So I said sure. The plan was simple: Walk into the boys bathroom. Drop my drawers and leave them. Streak the games. Run out the back. Again, like before, Jeff goes, "I'll do it with you." I said, "Are you sure?" He said, "yep." So, day of the games, we walked in the gym. Gazed across the courts at what seemed like hundreds of young Mormon girls (and a gallery of our friends, knowing what was about to happen) and took a left into the restrooms and stashed our clothes in the trash. We put on ski masks for good measure. Tennis shoes, skimasks and weiners. I think I came running out first, followed by Jeff. We tried to scream but more than likely they just heard our hystarical laughter. We ran fast and I still recall hearing two things: vollyballs bouncing and some lady over the loudspeaker telling the girls, "Ladies...concentrate on your games." OMG it was absolutely hysterical. We hit the back doors, ran across the field buck naked and into the neighborhood behind the school where Jeff's car was parked.
He was the best partner in crime!
I still can't believe he's gone. Jeff was the Big Lebowski, "The Dude", years before that movie came out. He came to visit Duane and I in Flagstaff just before he disappeared. From what I remember they never found him after he went for a swim in a river in AK. They just found his clothes. Same thing they found in the bathroom after that Mormon vollyball game.