Jeffrey Stein

Jeffrey (Jeff) Stein left this world on May 22, 2025 in Alexandria, Virginia. Kind, gentle, upright, modest, and loving to his family, Jeff was a wonderful man and will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his sons, Michael and Danny, his daughters-in-law Katie and Rachel, his grandchildren Levi and Genevieve who he loved dearly, his former wife Donna, his brothers Sheldon and Elliott, and his dear friends. Jeff was born in 1952, in the heart of the baby boom to Harry and Pauline Stein. His big brother Sheldon wasn’t even two years old when Jeff came along, but they weren’t a family of four for long, as brothers Dennis and then Elliott came along soon thereafter. Harry and Pauline certainly had their hands full with four busy boys, plus a cantankerous dog named Sparky. Jeff and his brothers grew up on Bendemeer Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. While they lived in a good neighborhood, they learned some bad words from kids on the lively streets. Jeff and his brothers quickly learned not to swear in the house or they’d get their mouths washed out with soap. Spending time playing sports, visiting his grandfather “Grampie’s” butcher shop, Jeff had a full childhood. Jeff and his future wife, Donna, attended the same high school. They didn’t really know each other, although Jeff was pretty sure he sat behind her in biology class and that she did better in it than he did. Even though they grew up less than two miles apart, it wasn’t until they both attended Ohio University, hundreds of miles away, that they got to know each other. After graduating with a degree in business, Jeff moved back to Cleveland where he worked for his father’s business and eventually branched out and started his own. Jeff and Donna married in 1982 and happily bought a home in Orange Village, the perfect compromise between the city and the country. Through his work, Jeff was able to explore his creative side. While not artistic, he always had ideas of a new product or device that could help grow the business, some of them he patented. None of them took off and became the multimillion-dollar idea that he wanted, but he enjoyed coming up with ideas for his businesses and had a sense of accomplishment in working hard to bring those ideas into reality. While Jeff was busy working and growing his business, his family was also growing. His son Michael was born, followed a couple years later by Danny. Jeff loved and adored his children. He clearly saw promise in his sons, so he instilled in them from a young age that when they got rich, they would need to buy him a condo and a yacht. As the years progressed and condo living and yachting lost their appeal for Jeff, especially after Miami Vice went off the air, he revised his request to a beach house and a kayak. While his marriage to Donna didn’t last, they remained deeply connected as parents raising their sons. Jeff was always there for his boys, like when he’d swing by to pick them up if they called him complaining about their mom’s tofu, cauliflower, and brown rice casserole, much to her chagrin. When the boys stayed over with him, they would all sleep in one big bed together and Jeff would tell them stories of a “great samurai” who traveled the land, vanquishing foes, in order to lull his children to sleep (although Jeff was the one who usually drifted off to sleep before any foes were vanquished). After living his whole life in Cleveland, Jeff changed his geography, left the cold and grey behind, and, like his father before him, went to sunny Florida. Eschewing the lure of the pickleball courts, line dancing, and early bird specials in favor of work, Jeff purchased a small manufacturing plant and poured himself into growing the business and coming up with new products. Jeff embraced his new life in Florida, enjoying the sunshine and the warmth, and the ability to go for runs outside year round. He and Danny, who was also living in Florida, had lots of fun times together, having good meals, enjoying lots of time at the beach, and going for runs. After a lifetime of running, Jeff even made it onto the winner’s podium in one of his last races in Florida. Jeff spent his last few years in Virginia, helping Michael and his wife, Katie, with their growing and loving family. He loved being a grandparent, but didn’t love the title, thinking that Grandpa sounded too old. He jokingly preferred the moniker “father emeritus” but his family affectionately referred to him as “Pops.” Jeff and Grandma Donna both became woven into the fabric of the family’s daily routines, going for walks, picking up the grandkids, and doing yard work together. Jeff was adored by his grandson, Levi, who always wanted to go over to “Pop’s house” for grapes, crackers, and play time. Jeff’s face would light up when playing with Levi and reading him stories, and he was calm and gentle while cuddling with his baby granddaughter, Genevieve. The businesses that Jeff started were called “Reliable”, “Independent”, and “Advance”. These names, that he chose, exemplify many things about him. He was reliable. He was always there for his family, like when his mother, brother, and father were ill. When his children had sporting events or music concerts, he was always there. He was independent. He often took road trips all over the U.S. for work, visiting almost every state, singing to Phil Collins and Jimmy Buffet along the way. He did his own thing, made his own decisions, and lived his own life. He had a keen sense of what was right and what was wrong, and he always tried to do the right thing. He worked to start and advance businesses. He tried to give his employees a good place to work and therefore helped them to advance their lives. His employees liked and respected him, often saying that he was the best boss they ever had. He worked to advance himself - he took up contra-dancing, trained for races, and went out on dates that his friends set him up on. Ladies liked that he was tall, dark, handsome, and quiet. But when telling his friends about his dates, he’d often refer to them as “prunes” rather than dates, a little fun word play that he and his friend had. Jeff also helped advance his children - helping them advance in sports and music while in school, helping them get an education, and supporting them in their careers and with their families. As grandchildren came along, he helped Michael and Katie buy a minivan so everyone, including Pops and the family dog, Della, could fit in one car. Jeff was loved, and he loved his family. He appreciated everything that his family did for him, and they appreciated everything he did for them. He was brave enough to share these feelings with them and open enough where they could share their feelings with him. Jeff was an avid reader and enjoyed history books, biographies, and James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux mystery novels. And while he often didn’t like watching movies more than once, he probably watched Tombstone about twenty times. His travels took him near the Old Tucson movie set a few times. He’d visit the area where many of his favorite western T.V. shows and movies were filmed, and he’d walk the dusty street saying things like, “I’m your huckleberry.” He enjoyed relaxing in his backyard and going to white sand beaches with crystal clear waters. There he’d enjoy a tropical rum drink, some fish time grub up, a slice of key lime pie, and let his troubles wash away. Jeff didn’t always have the easiest life. But he worked hard when things got tough, and he had the courage to persevere, to find new paths, to advance. His friends and his family helped him find joy, helped him learn, helped him laugh. He helped provide for us. He was there when we needed him. He helped us be who we are today and who we will be going forward. The past is ours and we can look back with gratitude on moments together and be grateful that we were lucky to share them. To paraphrase Hannah Senesh, a heroic young jewish lady who’s life was cut short during World War II. “There are stars whose radiance is visible on Earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world even though they are no longer among the living. These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for us.” May Jeff's memory be a blessing and inspiration to all who loved him. Please consider sharing a fond memory or story about Jeff. If you like, also consider donations in Jeff's name to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota, FL.

Tributes

Jeffrey Stein

September 19, 1952 - May 22, 2025