Our family is raising money in loving memory of our beloved Jeff, who passed away after the devastating diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

Jeff was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He loved spending time with his family and playing his guitar. His grandchildren brought him endless joy, and some of our favorite memories are simply of being together with him.

At 72 years old, Jeff was still living a full and active life when everything changed. CJD is a rare, rapidly progressive brain disease that currently has no cure and no proven treatment. In just a matter of weeks, the disease stole his ability to communicate, walk, and in a short five weeks from diagnosis, CJD ultimately took his life. Watching someone you love deteriorate so quickly is heartbreaking in a way that is difficult to put into words.

Even in the face of this devastating diagnosis, Jeff wanted to help others. In accordance with his wishes, after his passing, he donated his brain to research so that scientists might better understand this disease and move closer to developing treatments—and one day, a cure.

That is the legacy we hope to continue.

Through this memorial fundraiser, we hope to honor Jeff’s life by supporting research into prion diseases and helping accelerate the search for effective treatments. While we couldn’t change Jeff’s outcome, we hope that together we can help change the future for other families facing this unimaginable diagnosis.

Every donation, no matter the size, supports the researchers and physicians working tirelessly to better understand CJD. Every contribution brings hope that one day families will hear words that we never could: “There is a treatment.”

Thank you for honoring Jeff’s memory. Your kindness, generosity, and support mean more to our family than we can ever express.

In loving memory of Jeff—may his legacy live on through hope, compassion, and the pursuit of a cure.