Saturday, January 7, 2023
Mary,
The news of Jeff's death, which I only learned about a couple of hours ago astonished me. Having been retired for 10 years, I have lost touch with most of my University contacts (the few still working, that is) and was not aware of the situation, Fortunately, for me, that is, I did have professional interactions with him as a physician a few times during the decade. The clearest memory I will cherish about Jeff is that he simply adored you and his family. I never saw him, when we did not talk about you.
His love and respect for you and your own accomplishments was without reservation. His face would light up and his demeanor
was a joy to behold when he would update me on any news about you or any of the children. At my stage of life, 81, he was still in "puberty", which makes his loss even more devastating. Having lost my youngest daughter to Covid (pre vaccination days) in 2020, the thought of the emotions you are experiencing, simply said, breaks my heart. I cannot tell you that sort of pain ever goes away....it begins to get a bit softer in time, however, one does not extinguish such love....ever. You and the children will be in my prayers and Jeff will always keep a place in my heart, because he touched my life in a lovely way. At the end of the day what we leave behind is how we touched the lives of others.....he leaves such touches with many, many folks. It is a remarkable legacy.
Fondly,
Caroline Dinsmore-Clancy
