I learned today that a high-school friend died over the weekend. I last saw Jeff Schofield nearly ten years ago at our thirty-year reunion in Florida. He was frail as a twig, victim of personal excesses that claim so many.
The news naturally conjured up memories of Winter Park High, class of 1968. I remembered parties at Jeff’s house, wild by our standards back then. But what came back more urgently was a trip he and I took our senior year.
We both were considering going to the University of Georgia or Mercer University and decided to take a road trip to check out the campuses.
The details are fuzzy after all these years. I’m certain the campus visits ended up brief and perfunctory. We were more enamored with being out on our own in unfamiliar places, sampling what awaited after graduation. We stayed with a young woman (his relative, I think) in Athens. She took us out that night to some college hangout, and people seemed to think we were college kids, too.
What I see as I write is Jeff sprawled behind the wheel of one of his parents’ big-ass cars, grinning in sunglasses and talking — and talking. I liked listening to him ramble on, free of pretense. We bounced over country highways, and the farther we got from home, the more the world opened up to us.
I was in charge of the radio, and Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” played over and over. I can hear it now, and for a moment the sensation that pervaded our trip brushes past.
We felt free.
I doubt we put the feeling to words, even if we understood it. Nor did we know it was a state of grace from which we were destined to fall. No matter. Before Otis starts singing again, I’m sending this memory out to you, Jeff.
UPDATE: A friend of Jeff’s offers a vivid, insightful account of time they spent together in recent years.
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Well said, Mike. Thank you. Hope you’re doing well. Take care, Gail
Appreciate it, Gail. As sad as this news is, it’s a reminder of all the good times we had. I’m looking forward to seeing you, Bill and the rest of the gang in September.
This is so strange. I reached out to Jeff just a while back through the WPHS web sight. Sent a surfing pic. What made me do it I do not know. Jeff and I were close before high school. Our parents hung out. Later there was distance. But something compelled me to write him. This kind of thing happens to me. Sort of extrasensory.
Thanks for the fond memory Mike. You have that way of putting things into words that I think about and can’t put into words. All the best to you buddy. Danny
Hi Mike,
Do you have any idea when the funeral is/was?
Mary
John…thanks for the email. Mike…we were so carefree back then, seems like it was only yesterday. I spent the majority of our 30 year reunion evening with Jeff, sitting outside at the Women’s Club and chatting, and chatting and chatting. I also had the impression that Jeff had some health issues. So sorry he was not able to overcome and regain his health. For Jeff and our other classmates that have left us to soon……I remember, we will all remember.
It’s nice to hear from everyone, even if the occasion is so tragic.
Thinking about Jeff prompted me to pull out the yearbook, which helps me remember him the way he was then rather than when I saw him at the thirtieth. Patty, I’m glad you talked to him at such length. I wish I would have, rather than engage in only a superficial greeting.
I don’t believe I’m overly nostalgic. But it’s strange how often our time together creeps into my head (awake and asleep). Yet, I almost never think about college or the people from that time in my life. And the anxieties and “drama” of high school have vanished from my memory, making the happy times shine all the brighter. An illusion, I suppose, but I’ll take it. (Regrets seem to loom larger with age, though something tells me I’m not alone with that one.)
I wish I wasn’t across the country and could make the memorial service Wednesday. I emailed Mary with the information from John Merlet’s email, which is below for anyone who missed it.
Take care.
– Mike
Amy Montgomery is having a memorial service for Jeff Schofield at her home. 2025 Strathaven Rd. Winter Park 407 657-4626 The memorial will take place Wednesday May 28, 2008 Arrive around 5:00pm – 6:00pm Small service 7:30pm Rev. Montgomery Please call Amy if you would like to bring some food and/or drinks. Hope to see you there. Becky Robinson Miller “
Thank you Mike for the tribute to Jeff. I saw him last at a party at his home when we all the classes of WPHS reunion, around 1987. (I think it was the year). He invited a number of us over, and we sat and laughed and found out lots of secrets about our classmates during high school. I remember laughing, and laughing at Jeff, he was the best at story telling. I will miss him, and thank you for your memories. I think we will all remember Jeff with a great fondness in our hearts for him.
Karen Williams Boniface
I wish I could be presenting his in person at the memorial. But unfortunately I just found out today that Jeff had passed. I liked reading the other comments and felt compelled to add my two cents. I have known Jeff since around 1991 when I worked for Jeff’s father Morgan Schofield. To this day I never knew Jeff’s official title, but I can tell you one thing. Every time I had a problem or a question about one of the insurance or investment products we sold Morgan sent me to Jeff. Jeff always had answers I needed.
Between Morgan, John and my dad (Raymond E. Beary) they were in charge of the big details. Which left Jeff and myself (Raymond A. Beary aka Randy) in charge of the shit details. Jeff’s and my first bonding experience outside the office was I getting called by the big shots to escort Jeff to rehab. But Jeff had a way of just rolling with the punches and that’s what we did. Over time we hung out. While John, dad and the big shots were at the Kentucky Derby. Jeff threw a Derby Party at his house and I was invited. It was a blow out of course with great food, some drinks and lots of antics. We had our own races during the party and I started out with cute jockey on my back but Jeff jumped on so I Bucked them both. Jeff hit the floor hard, but never spilled a drop. Jeff had huge bruises from it but we laughed often.
Jeff was great at customizing cars and after each wreck the Jaguar ran better then before.
Over the years we stayed in touch. I would not send Jeff’s Christmas cards to his house, but to his office at 1001 N Mills Ave. Orlando FL 32803 that’s Wally’s Liquor in case you didn’t know. I called Jeff not to long ago. I had to drive straight through from Effingham, IL to take care of some family business. I called Jeff the night before so we could meet at his office (Wally’s) at 8:30 a.m. That was early for him but he made it any ways. We always talked about so many different things. I could write a book about Jeff, John and Morgan. The book would be a heart felt comedy. I had invited Jeff to Christmas dinner last year but he was having it with Linda, Carrie and Todd. But during dinner at my sister Noel’s, she had a revelation that I shared with Jeff later. Noel said referring to her and me “we are the only normal ones in our family”. The meaning in reference to the extreme successes that others in our family and Jeff’s had is not normal. Jeff was a huge success in so many ways, by normal standards and his own. Jeff called me about 6 weeks ago at about 11:00 p.m. I was with my brother Richard on a motorcycle trip, Jeff had just found out Morgan his dad had bought 2000 shares of stock in a Sperm Bank. Over the years is split several times and was now 100,000 shares. Jeff was laughing so hard, he said “I’m only telling people about receiving 100,000 shares”. “I’m not telling them it’s only worth about $600.00″.
I will miss our conversations, his ideas for making money, his humor and our friendship.
God Bless us all.
Raymond A. (Randy) Beary, Pana, IL (summers), Englewood, FL
I too was deeply saddened to learn of Jeff’s death. Mike, your tribute was wonderful. We will all miss Jeff, but his memory will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
I am so sorry to hear about Jeff. It is tragic to lose a loved one, or a dear friend, in the prime of their lives.
He will be missed when we get together in September. May God bless him and may his family find stength and peace knowing that he had so many high school friends who remember him positively.
I wrote a piece about Jeff on my blog, too, titled, “It wasn’t our day to die”. What a great guy he was and what a nice tribute you wrote. Because of diabetes, I don’t drink nearly as much as I used to. Consequently, I didn’t see Jeff much anymore. A friend of mine saw him at Wally’s just before he died and he acknowledged his problem with alcohol. Yes, he did look very bad and I think we all knew a while ago what was in store for him due to his problem. Unfortunately, we can only lead a horse to water.
I’m glad I found you.
Dave — Your comment is much appreciated. I read your remembrance of Jeff on your blog and hope others will do the same. I’ve added a link to it at the bottom of my post about him.
– Mike
I was very saddened to learn of Jeff’s passing. The last time I saw him was at a reunion for WPHS where they were trying for a Guiness World Record. He seemed like he had everything going for him and all I can say is I am stunned. I’m thankful that Mike had a place express our grief and feelings for Jeff
Your friend, Mary, is one of the best friends I have ever had in my life, I understand perfectly how your fortieth was so special: You were able to reconnect with her, What an amazing person she is. I have never known anyone who is more giving. She sent me your blog and I am so happy! Thank you, Mike!
Go Obama!
Harriett
Harriet,
One of the nice things about our forty-year reunion was being reminded how some people are exactly as I remember them from high school. Such is the case with Mary, especially as she talked politics. Fiery and passionate are the two words that come to mind. Free of pretense, too.
Knowing I have fellow Obama zealots in Florida is a comfort. Maybe I can get the two of you to persuade two of my right-wing relatives over from the other side.
All the best.
Mike
I want to thank all of you who have published something..some memory…some heartfelt feelings about Jeff’s passing. He is my cousin- I was named after his father. My dad and my uncle Morgan were great friends and great brothers. The only difference is that I came later in life for my parents and didn’t get to know John or Jeff that well. Those two were more like uncles to me. I am going to share this site…I just now found it and I apologize that I hadn’t responded quicker.
Again, thank you for the stories and sharing your sadness.
Morgan Schofield
phx, az
Morgan — I’m pleased you’ve seen how so many people cared for Jeff. Looking back, I believe our circle of friends was special. We had a wonderful time together and somehow managed not to get into serious trouble. Of course it was simpler time, and even in the late 1960s our small part of the world wasn’t yet affected by the turmoil sweeping the country. It’s little consolation, but you should know that Jeff’s death helped me appreciate anew my high school friends and re-establish not just contact after many years but strong bonds. And I know other friends of Jeff have felt and responded the same way. Thanks for writing. — Mike
My brother Morgan shared this site with me. Jeff was a cousin of mine. I should start by stating over the years my siblings and I were enamored with their family. Morgan and Doris were our favorite Uncle and Aunt and our family would visit Winter Park and Trenton during my dad’s summer weeks off through the mid 70’s. John and Jeff were already out of the house then and so we got to stay in their old bedrooms. Being from a military family and traveling every few years at the time, we were envious of their charmed life.
As you know, all of their family loved to have a good laugh and we were always laughing at the practical jokes. Many nights we got to stay up late and sooner or later Jeff or John would stop by to say hello and tell us the latest news. Doris would often pull out sheet music and play her organ and get my mom to sing along to her favorite Hawaiian music. A few years later when John and Jeff started their business, we always bragged about our cousins in Florida who were making lots of money in the financial market!
I was in Winter Park with my dad for Morgan’s funeral several years ago and he and I returned on my dad’s last visit in April 2006, a month before he passed, visiting relatives in Trenton near the Suwanee River where Morgan, my dad and their family had farmed and raised horses beginning in the 1920’s. Jeff’s (our) grandparents were pioneers in that area and we still have cousins, aunts and extended family there. We sat down with Jeff that afternoon at (I believe it was the Best Western) motel where John, Jeff and friends used to hang out at the restaurant and bar. The management there placed a plaque outside at John’s regular table spot honoring him. Of course, while catching up with Jeff he had plenty of funny acecdotes about how his life in Winter Park was going, past and current female relationships and getting the opinions of some of the other guys he knew sitting nearby. My dad and I thoroughly enjoyed that time reminiscing with Jeff before heading to the airport to catch our flight back home to Arizona.
As I mentioned, Morgan and Doris were our favorites and my mom (Luana) and Dad (Scho) were John and Jeff’s favorite Aunt and Uncle. Jeff was a good soul, thoughtful and considerate and was always willing to look out for the Schofield family members. He would call my mom every few months to check on her and say hello.
I last saw Jeff at the funeral services of our last surviving Uncle (Little Buddy/Harrison) in Trenton (“the River”) in March 2008. He was of course leading the conversation and banter at my Aunt’s house prior to the church service. Following the service, he had to leave early as he didn’t want to drive in the dark because of a cataract issue.
I have several other Jeff stories but will close my entry to say we miss Jeff, along with his brother and parents. We have many fond memories of all them living life to the fullest and some of us were lucky enough to be part of their world of family and friends.
Best regards, Woody Schofield
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