Jeff Buss

[peregrinerose 0]

Any Herd jumpers would likely know Jeff, so thought I would post here. He died of natural causes and was found yesterday morning. Blue Skies, Jeff.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[david3 0]

Jeff was one of the people I feel lucky to have met because of skydiving. He was a coach to me when I was new. Not a structured USPA coach like they have now but one of the old timers (not sure he would like me calling him that) that always had a good story or advice to help a floundering new skydiver find his way.

Off the DZ he was one of the many interesting people I have met in this sport maybe the most interesting. One of the people you were glad to see at the bonfire because soon you would hear him say “I remember this one time…”

I’m going to miss him.

Here is a photo with Jeff (on the right) and Winsor spotting from 0 feet agl.

[david3 0]

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Jeff’s girlfriend Cheryl is planning a Memorial Service in honor of Jeff’s memory. The service will be held on Saturday, March 31st at Calvary Temple in Allentown. Time is from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.



Please spread the word.



Calvary Temple

3436 Winchester Rd

Allentown, PA 18104

http://calvarytemplepa.org/





Below is a note from Cheryl:



Hi everyone,


Jeff's memorial service is coming together--the American Legion will have a 12 man guard for flag folding and taps. We need to honor him as a Vietnam vet wounded in combat--he was proud of his service to his country. Please do your best to make it--the skydiving community was the core of his life and I hope there is a good representation. It's not a formal church service, casual attire is fine. It's sad that his own family members didn't honor him with a funeral service before having him cremated but that gives us an opportunity to do something even better. Hope to see you there.



Love,



Cheryl

[peregrinerose 0]

It figures it's right in the middle of Safety Day for KSC. Hoping to slip out right after my lecture and go to the memorial.

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[david3 0]

http://salisbury.patch.com/articles/in-memoriam-jeff-buss

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In Memoriam: Jeff Buss, Salisbury High Grad
Memorial service for Jeff Buss, a Salisbury High School class of '65, will be held March 31 at Calvary Temple in South Whitehall.

March 27, 2012

When Jeff Buss, 64, of Catasauqua died suddenly of a heart attack on March 4, the world lost a true Renaissance man. Artist, scientist, amateur astronomer, naturalist, beekeeper and skydiver, Jeff was considered a creative genius by those who knew him.

Jeff was a member of the first graduating class from Salisbury High School in 1965. He was described as a mad scientist in his yearbook. Jeff studied electrical engineering at Indiana University until he was drafted in 1968. Jeff served in the 101st Airborne Division from 1968-1969 in Vietnam, where he was wounded and earned a Purple Heart for his service.

Jeff started skydiving after he returned from Vietnam and became an instructor. He was a member of the Lehigh Valley Parachute Team and jumped into the J. Birney Crum stadium bearing the American flag every July 4 for the last 33 years.

With a head of curly, gray hair and an impish grin, Jeff was often recognized in Allentown. Strangers would often stop him on the street and say, "Hey, I know you! You're that skydiver who jumps into the stadium on July 4th!"

Jeff was an inventor. Among his creations: he handcrafted a beautiful Dobsonian telescope with an 18-inch reflecting mirror that was of museum quality; he built a large window in his room made of prism rods that reflected rainbows on the walls when the sun hit it; he had a Tesla coil that will be donated to the Da Vinci Science Center; he built musical instruments, including beautiful windchimes perfectly tuned to blue chords; he made a theremin, an electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player, after watching a program about its inventor, Leon Theremin.

Jeff was an avid beekeeper and made hand-dipped beeswax candles that won first place in the Pennsylvania Farm Show several years ago. He'd carry a bag of candles with him around Christmas time and hand them out to people who looked like they needed a touch of kindness.

He counted rocketry among his many and varied interests (and wore a shirt that said, "As a matter of fact, I am a rocket scientist!"). He was a field service engineer at Medical Data Information Services in Horsham. He was a level II thermographer and worked on equipment related to nuclear medicine, such as gamma cameras.

Jeff never married but shared his life with his longtime soulmate, Cheryl Coruzzi. He doted on his "children," his beloved cockatoos, Peaches and Snowy. He loved and respected nature and all creatures. He had a tender heart towards children and the elderly.

Jeff had a sweet, childlike spirit and a wild sense of humor. He was a wonderful human being who passed on his enthusiasm and knowledge to many people. He will be sadly missed.

A memorial service will be held in Jeff's honor from 2:30 p.m.-4:40 p.m. Saturday, March 31 at Calvary Temple, 3436 Winchester Road in South Whitehall.