Jeff Zaslow
Jeff was a Wall Street Journal columnist and author, having collaborated on such books as The Last Lecture and the recent book with Gabby Giffords and her husband. He died in a car accident in Michigan at the age of 53. He was from Broomall and even wrote a column about the Vet being exploded in 2004.
Jeff and I were high school classmates. We were casual friends and did a few things in groups together, playing cards and even going to Phillies games. I haven't seen him since we graduated, but I had heard of his successes through the years. He was voted most likely to succeed in our class, and he certainly did.
Even though we were never that close and had been out of touch for many years, hearing this news brings back some clear memories. I remember Jeff razzing me about my alternate route to Veterans Stadium on the way to a Phillies game when the Passyunk Avenue drawbridge opened, almost making us late. It was a twi-night doubleheader (speaking of memories) with multiple rain delays. We started out in the second to last row of the 700 level and eight hours later we were nearly alone in the stands right behind the Phils' dugout. Another memory I have is being over Jeff's house with another friend when Jeff, president of the student council, proudly played a record of the unknown (to us) Livingston Taylor, whom he had somehow managed to get to play a concert at our high school (which he did a few weeks later). Actually, I'm sure it wasn't in Jeff's college applications, but he became student council president by default. He finished second in the election to my next door neighbor, who was forced out soon afterwards after blowing up a toilet in the boys room. Wow, the memories that can be triggered after being dormant for so many years.
RIP, Jeff.
