Jeff grew up in a military family, living in multiple places including Germany, the Dakotas, Simi Valley, California and ultimately ended up in Cleveland, Ohio. A wrestler who qualified as a first alternative for the 1980 Olympics, Jeffrey was a sports fanatic his whole life.
Jeffrey started as a typical parent of speed skaters: driving his kids to and from multiple practices every week, spending late nights sharpening skates, traveling on the weekends, and tying skates in various heat boxes during races around the country.
However, he quickly became much more involved and found a long-lasting love for the sport. He started to sharpen skates for other skaters in his club, Lakewood Speed Skating. Jeff would say that sharpening skates was free therapy. He would bring home skates that belonged to the club, sharpen them, and loan them out to newcomers. He would even save old skates and blades, and loan those out as well, just so others could experience the sport that he found so much beauty in.
Jeff continued to take on more responsibilities, helping move mats from local ice rinks in preparation for a large meet. He spent many late nights drilling holes in the ice to allow dots and lines to be placed. But he wanted to become more involved, so he became a starter, quickly progressing to starting local and national meets. He developed a passion for starting/officiating and had a dream to one day be a starter at the Olympics. He continued to rise through the ranks, as an official, and eventually became an international level official.
Jeff was able to travel around the world, starting internationally, and attending seminars.
His daughter Rachel Maxwell shared this: “being a starter was his pride and joy. He would often tell me “My job as an official is to make sure every skater has the best race they can, while staying safe and having fun.” He cared so much for every aspect of the sport, from the rinks, to the skaters, and to even the parents.”
She continued: “My father never made it to the Olympics, but I was lucky enough to spend time with him in March at the World Championships in Montreal. This was his Olympics, and his favorite trip of all. He talked about it often before his passing, and when he spoke of it, he had a big smile on his face, and a brightness to him. Within weeks following this meet, he died of an illness he had been fighting for quite some time, even while he was traveling, starting, and passing on his love for the sport. We miss him dearly and hope that his memory, love, and dedication to the sport can live on by being inducted to the Speed Skating Hall of Fame.”