It's a Team's Life
Sad Day
I have talked with Jeff for many years and was lucky enough to spend some time with him off and on. Jeff was the senior editor of the Expedite Now magazine when we started looking into Expediting.
Jeff had a way with words that kept me intrigued reading his articles. He wrote about expediters and how they lived on the road. Jeff was often asking questions of what are practices were to stay safe on the road, what did we do on layovers, how did we get the fuel mileage we are able to achieve.
The first time Jeff called us for an interview my heart almost quit and with a shaking voice I told him we were getting ready to make a delivery and asked if he would call back in an hour. I was petrified and wondered what in the world we had of interest to say? We had only been out here a year and what did we know?
Jeff called back and with his unique voice immediately put me at ease and acted as if I had a brilliant insight into expediting. He was very easy to talk with and that first conversation lasted over an hour talking about many things. I learned a little about him and he learned a lot about us. When we saw the article Jeff had brought out all of our good points and had un muddied everything I had said and turned it into English and coherent sentences.
After that first interview we stayed in contact as friends and talked about all manner of things. We would pick up an Expedite Now magazine and there would be quote from us that I had said months ago. He kept track of everything and he was always positive.
When Jeff started to go down hill and he was losing his sight it was so sad. Jeff was a positive brilliant person that had a great sense of humor. Over time as the diabetes took more and more from him he finally quit writing articles. We stayed in touch, but not as often as I felt guilty, as I know he longed for the freedom we had. Never once in all of the times I spoke with him did he ever let the conversation become a pity party. He was always positive and wanted to know where we were and what we were doing, and what we were looking at in the future.
My last conversation with Jeff was a hard one as he was in the hospice and had quit his dialysis. When I called Jeff had just woke up and he was a little disoriented. He could not figure out who Linda Caffee was… He kept saying Linda Linda did I work with you? Then he said LINDER and I said yes and he started laughing and said why in the world didn’t you say that to begin with. Immediately Jeff remembered everything from our first meeting on and even asked about Molly. I was having a hard time choking back tears listening to Jeff and realizing that we were having our last chat. Jeff never missed a beat and he turned that last conversation in a laugh fest.
Jeff inspired me in many ways and my blog is just one of the ways Jeff influenced me. Jeff was influential in our ability to stay positive and to always stay informed about our profession. Many expediters that knew him over the years will miss Jeff and I am sure there will never be another like him.
Rest in peace Jeff you deserve the best.
Jeff doing what he liked listening to other talk. This was taken at the 2008 Expo and Jeff was visiting with Dave Korfman and Rene O'Connell
Bob & Linda Caffee
Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical 

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO
Expediters 6 years been out here on the road 11 years
Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle; 

Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;

Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;

Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.