Jeffrey Shieh

Ok Jeff, you win. You get the first-to-heaven trophy.

From an early age, Jeff was known for his ultra-competitive spirit. And why not — he was an all-around natural athlete. (He knew it, by the way.) Give him a new sport he hadn’t tried (if such a thing exists) and he’d practically master it on his first try.

But this time, his competitive nature went a bridge too far. Being first in his generation of his family to reach heaven was hardly necessary to prove he was number one. He already was MVP throughout each chapter of his life, both on and off the playing field. All those lucky enough to know Jeff recognized him as a winner long, long ago – especially in the character department.

Jeffrey Shieh was born in the one-square-mile village of Bronxville, NY on November 12, 1968. Given that Jeff literally climbed up the molding that frames doorways – any doorway -- before he could even walk, it’s no wonder that he went on to become a football and track star in high school, earning accolades in the NY Times and medaling in the decathlon at the Empire State Games. Onward to the University of Richmond, where Jeff studied English and Economics, spent a semester at sea and met lifelong friends. Upon graduation, he was hired into a rigorous credit training program at Midlantic Bank. Jeff rapidly advanced to bank officer. In his role, he retained attorneys to work on loan restructuring and supervised litigation strategy. But Jeff didn’t find the job particularly stimulating, so off he went to join his father’s newly formed PacificLink, a strategic advisory firm that specialized in Sino-foreign joint ventures. The father/son team worked to locate appropriate financial and strategic investors for joint opportunities.

Many air miles later and ready for a change, Jeff landed on his doting big sister’s couch, accepting a position at BNY Associates in Boston. During this chapter at the investment banking subsidiary of Bank of New York, Jeff lived on Beacon Hill and met his adored future wife, Cheryl (incidentally also crashing on her doting big sister’s couch).

Eventually, Jeff traded suit and tie for shorts and tees when he was recruited to work at And1 Basketball, a pivotal career move to a specialty apparel wholesaler. At this 8-person startup, Jeff was responsible for corporate planning and operations management. By the time he left And1, the fledgling firm had grown to become a massively profitable branded basketball footwear and apparel company of more than 80 employees. Fun fact: there is a documentary out there about And1. If you’re inclined to catch it, see if you can spot Jeff!

For Jeff, And1 proved to be a practical (even superior) hands-on alternative to the traditional MBA education, a path he had toyed with. It was And1 that fired up Jeff’s appetite for entrepreneurial projects. His real-life classroom came from the vast array of opportunities that go hand in hand with growing a young company and, later, followed by launching a few of his own. Jeff was an idea guy, interested in making things easier and more accessible to consumers. By unfortunate coincidence, when he received his diagnosis, Jeff was developing a medical app with a friend and fraternity brother, who happened to be a pulmonologist. An oncologist joined the team shortly thereafter.  These partners would be invaluable resources to Jeff on his health journey. The pilot focus of the app was directed at lung cancer patients. Jeff eventually lost his left lung, hence his family nickname, Mr. Right.

Relocating to Pennsylvania’s Main Line, meant a brief long-distance stint before Cheryl joined Jeff in Pennsylvania. In 1998, Jeff and Cheryl returned to Boston to be married in a historic Back Bay brownstone. With the new millennium came fatherhood, launching Jeff into the richest part of his full life. Jeff became Dad to four in five short years. You heard it: four sets of pitter-pattering feet under the age of five. Each of Jeff’s kids is a distinctive and accomplished individual who adds to an active household chock full of fun and love. (And noise.)

With self-employment, post And1, Jeff gained the day-to-day flexibility he was after. Being his own boss, meant he rarely missed a gymnastics meet, team game, or school event. He drove the carpool, helped make dinner (spaghetti tacos were a favorite) and once everyone else was in bed, Jeff would return to work. Jeff taught his kids to be independent and have high standards, always. He was a role model of perseverance and civility. He embodied the life code of the other fellow first (motto at his beloved Camp Dudley, which had great influence in his life). Jeff felt travel was education. He wanted his kids to see places – and they did. Jeff nurtured not just his immediate family but his extended family as well. He was always there for his niece and nephews and never failed to greet them with the broadest of Uncle Jeff smiles.

The Shieh family continued to expand beyond the four kids. In 2014, Jeff and Cheryl welcomed Poppy Livers into the family as an honorary son, and thus began a relationship that would continue to shape both men. It was a relationship that Jeff deeply treasured. And then came the foster parenting -- of dogs, that is. Through the organization Home At Last Dog Rescue, countless four-legged (and some three-legged) furry friends passed through the household on their way to their forever homes. Duke and Piper stayed with the family and were spoiled rotten by Jeff.

Jeff’s rich life spilled over into his neighborhood. The 5 Streets ‘Hood is full of special people who became close friends and were the very definition of community. These neighbors sustained Jeff’s family through his year and a half battle with cancer. Richness followed Jeff onto to the baseball field as well, where he played 11 years with the Harleysville Angels. He considered his teammates, every one of them, as friends and brothers.

When Jeff was diagnosed with cancer in September 2022, the competitor we know charged full force into treatment, including the mother of all surgeries. Jeff fought his illness even in the week we lost him. Life was irrefutably rich for Jeff, from birth through his final days – in spite of his two cancers. It’s hard to fathom that someone as alive as Jeff is no longer here. Scores of people will miss Jeff, who was always quick with a funny quip and ready to go out of his way to help. But it is his immediate family who will feel his absence most fervently: his beloved wife Cheryl, who he held in utter awe; his adored, uniquely amazing children Kyle (22), Lila (21), Olivia (19), Mason (17); Vivien, the mother he treasured beyond measure; Wynne, his sister who fondly remembers him chasing and spitting on her friends; and Diane, his incredible friend, former colleague and sister-in-law. His cherished niece Holly and nephews Doug and Nick also are feeling the intense loss of his charismatic and reassuring presence, as does his honorary son Poppy (32) and brothers-in-law, Paul, Denis, Chris and Ken as well as sisters-in-law, Michelle and Joan. Jeff’s large flock of cousins, aunts and uncles also were important people throughout his life. We’re pretty certain that Jeff has already hit the golf course. Just a day before he left us, Jeff said that he would soon be playing golf with his Dad, Paul. He serenely noted, too, he’d be seeing his nephew JP.

Everyone has a story about Jeff. We hope you’ll join us at The Saturday Club in Wayne, PA on April 6, 2024 at 2pm to reminisce over refreshments. We’ll have plenty of memory cards on hand for you to jot down a story or two. Or three. Your memories have already brought us comfort and smiles to temper our searing pain. We are all immensely proud of Jeff – every member of his immediate and extended family. Reading through your comments online has made us even prouder. We cherish the memories you’re sharing. Keep 'em coming!

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jeff’s name to one of the following organizations: 

Home At Last Dog Rescue https://www.homeatlastdogrescue.com/donate

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://givenow.lls.org/give/342076/?ds_rl=1278572&gad_source=1&ds_rl=1278572&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqpSwBhClARIsADlZ_Tkwb8XjAvMBSHBJHsvnkd8O7QlgV9bnJ152V3FQl6l2-VnTRneCNzkaAvtdEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#!/donation/checkout?preset1=50&preset2=100&preset3=250&preset4=500

The particulars of Jeff’s celebration:

Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024

Time: 2 pm – 5pm       

Location: The Saturday Club, 117 West Wayne Ave. Wayne, PA 19087

**Parking for The Saturday Club is available in a few areas in downtown Wayne.  There is free parking in the lot adjacent to the fire station on South Wayne Ave and a lot on Runnymede Ave (both are reserved for teachers during the week, but available to the public on weekends).  There is also a municipal lot across the street from the fire station that has metered parking until 6:00pm on Saturdays as well as street parking (also metered).