This was a beautiful, sensitive, loving, human being
Known for his sense of humor and his warm, welcoming presence, Jeff accepted people of all ethnic backgrounds and cared deeply for his friends and family. As the youngest of three boys, he shared a particularly close bond with his mother, MaryAnn, and was often her companion. Together, they regularly visited his grandmother at her nursing home-trips that often included a stop at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Music played an important role in Jeff’s life. He loved hip hop from an early age and enjoyed break dancing as a child. Jeff also loved sports and spent time playing basketball and skiing. An accomplished athlete he also participated in baseball and soccer throughout his life.
Family was central to Jeff’s upbringing. He shared many family vacations, including trips to Disney World, California, and several family-focused Club Med resorts. Holidays were often hosted at the family home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and brought together extended family, friends, and children’s friends, creating lasting memories.
Jeff graduated from Pittsfield High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in multicultural communications from Westfield State University. He had strong skills in communication, organization, and marketing. After college, he worked for the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, where he managed marketing for a model united nations program that taught conflict resolution skills to students in inner-city Boston schools and as a district and legislative aide for a state senator. In later years he built a successful career booking famous hip hop artists including Nas, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg, to perform in Myrtle Beach, SC. Jeff also appeared as an extra in several films. By far, his greatest accomplishment was being a great hands-on father to his young son, Aiden Jeffrey, who was four years old at the time of Jeff’s passing. Although he never married, Jeff remained friends with Aiden’s mother, Anayeli.
Family oriented, Jeff was close to his brothers Brian and Kevin, his step-sister Lauren, and their spouses, and was a devoted uncle to his eight nieces and nephews.
Living with addiction brought years of struggle for Jeff and for those who loved him. Over time, the disease strained Jeff’s relationships and caused deep pain for his family. They describe the anguish of knowing that, despite all their efforts, they could not save him. He did not want to be defined by the disease, yet it held him in a grip that was painfully hard to break. Watching someone so deeply loved—someone with such goodness and potential—slowly slip away was heartbreaking beyond words. Finding the right kind of help was nearly impossible. Through it all, Jeff held onto hope that he would one day find lasting recovery. The last time his mother spoke with Jeff, she was leaving for a vacation. He told her, “I’m going to use these two weeks to get better. If I can’t do this on my own, I promise I’ll go into treatment.” He died shortly afterward.
Even many years later, friends continue to reach out to Jeff’s family to share heartfelt stories about how he helped them and what he meant in their lives. One friend described him as a kaleidoscope. “Whatever way you turned him, he showed amazing, beautiful colors,” MaryAnn shared.
Jeff is remembered for his smile, his laugh, his phone calls, and his presence. His life is remembered as that of a beautiful, sensitive, and loving human being.
Jeffrey’s mother, MaryAnn Yarmosky, provided the information for this narrative.
August 21, 1975-October 28, 2013-Age 38
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
