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In Memory

Jeff Byers

Jeff Byers

Jeffrey Olan Byers, born March 24, 1947, passed away on June 5, 2020, from cancer.  He is survived by his daughter Katie.  Jeff was a volunteer storyteller and story trainer at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; he’s shown below telling stories during our 50th reunion, May 25 and 26, 2019.

From the Berkeley Daily Planet:  “Berkeley's Stagebridge community is mourning the loss of storyteller Jeff Byers, ‘a generous and gentle teacher and mentor.’ Byers was known to many for his work with the ‘story archive’ at the Asian Art Museum where he presided as a resident storyteller and guide. Storybridge is celebrating Jeff's life online, sharing words from his friends and videos of Jeff spinning tales drawn from Asian history. Here is one of those tales.” 

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeffbyers

 
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08/26/20 06:15 PM #1    

Bruce Nygren

Oh Jeff! You will be sorely missed. What a beautiful soul!

08/27/20 03:09 PM #2    

John Kramer

Jeff was pivotal in setting up the Story Hour at our reunion. His fund of experience and gracious assistance helped us tremendously.  I didn't know him well at school, but it was a privilege and a pleasure working with him last year.  I am so sorry that he is gone.


08/28/20 07:04 AM #3    

Chip Hauss

I didn't know Jeff as well as Bruce or John waaaaaaaaay back when, but I had the privilege of working with him more in the last 25 years. It was a privilege.


08/28/20 12:14 PM #4    

Noel Evans

I enjoyed Jeff's storytelling clips on youtube very much! Especially the badger story.  It makes me sad that I didn't know this classmate way back when. Wish I had. 


08/28/20 03:57 PM #5    

John Kirkwood

Jeff was a dear classmate and dorm-mate whom I kept in touch with over the years...and am sad to lose from the community. His generous provision of his VW beetle for my travels to a dinner in Cleveland in the winter of sophomore year were part of what led to a 50-year marriage that continues to the present, and he is warmly remembered!


08/29/20 09:51 AM #6    

Eve Goldberg (Tal)

I don't know how I missed knowing Jeff during our college years (we were both English majors). During the reuinion we shared a table at the afternoon session (I believe set up by John Kramer) with a bunch of others among whom were Bruce, Ellie, Lynne, Judd. We talked honestly and openly and sometimes heatedly about so many things, including the death of Jeff's wife and how we wanted to spend the rest of our lives. I left that session thinking how much I had missed in not knowing Jeff before and looking forward to  seeing him at our next reunion. 


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