Hello everyone, Thank you for coming out today to remember
Jeffrey. My name is Tomás, a friend of Jeffrey since our days at Whitworth
College. I am challenged today to sum up 21 years of friendship in just a few
minutes. We were classmates, study partners, roommates, and playmates! I was in
his wedding to Mila, he was my best man when I married. He was the best friend
I have ever had. Jeffrey “got” me.
Jeffrey was a man of many influences and unconventional
wisdom. He spoke several languages and was well read on a variety of topics. Jeffrey
loved knowledge.
How many of us here did Jeffrey encourage to read such authors
as Kierkegaard, Kafka, Hunter S. Thompson, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Matt Groening or
the Dali Llama? Then later, explore the deeper meanings of it all.
Music was another of Jeffrey’s passions. If there was a band
that you never heard of, Jeff probably had. He was always eager to share his
newest find. When I lived overseas, he would send me mix tapes. Whenever the
return address said “Jeffrey Stevenson, Esq.” I knew I was in for a treat. Many
bands come to mind when I think of Jeffrey; Screaming Trees, Offspring, Jane’s
Addiction, Dave Brubeck, and of course The Grateful Dead. How can you think of Jeffrey and
not think of the grateful dead? He had
the most impressive collection of CD’s and “bootleg” tapes of theirs that I
have ever seen. Maybe that had something to do with growing up in Eugene, home
of Autzen Stadium, the Dead’s home away from home… Regardless of the reason,
Jeffrey was certainly a fan extraordinaire!We often enjoyed his love for music in his little red Dodge
pickup. It had a better sound system than we had at home! With the big woofers
situated behind the seats, it was like getting a back massage whenever we drove
somewhere. Yes, of course the volume was excessive!
It was in that truck that I have some of my fondest memories
of Jeffrey. Some good, some I can’t repeat… My favorite was Spring Break 1991. As
our fellow Whitworthians were heading out to exotic places, staying in “party
hotels”, we loaded up the truck and headed to Eugene Oregon and stayed with his
grandmother. WOO HOO Par-Tay! But together we made it one memorable trip! He
was easy to travel with.
On the way back to Spokane, we stopped in Longview to visit
his parents. From there we took his dad’s 300ZX to Seaside. You did know we
took you car didn’t you, Jack? With the top down the music up, we thought we
were “all that” and that day, we were.
I know that we all had a special, very personal relationship
with Jeffrey. Saying goodbye to him is difficult. But please, don’t be sad THAT
he left us, let us celebrate WHAT he left us; fond memories of a man with a big
heart, animal lover, a sharp intellect, cunning wit, a kind spirit and an
infectious laugh. I am so grateful that our paths crossed in this life.
Thank you, Jeffrey, for the time that you spent with us. I
love you and I miss you, buddy.
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