I met Jeff when I was living in Marin County in the late 1980's.  I remember a lovely and kind person.  We became friends although I did not know Jeff for long.  I do remember some nice outings.  I am from New Zealand but had never skied.  Jeff thought I should give cross country skiing a go and so I agreed.  Needless to say, it was a complete disaster - I did not like it one bit, probably because I was so bad at it!  Jeff also invited me as his guest on a white-water rafting trip.  I think after that Jeff realised; I wasn't quite made out for white water rafting either!  I do remember a party at his house one afternoon and meeting his sister who was very nice to me.  A brief moment in time but certainly fond memories of someone who showed me a different side of life.

I just saw this page today, December 26, 2023.

Jeff and I were college roommates in San Francisco from 1979 to 1982. Though we were not in touch after those days, Jeff and I had many adventures and shared experiences. He is responsible in some ways for two of the biggest loves of my life.

I came home one day to find Jeff surrounded by papers strewn over the dining room table. He was filling out applications for a job as a white water river guide. “Hey, I want to do that,” I said. We both ended up being hired by Outdoor Adventures. Rafting was something we both loved and continued to inspire us for many , many years.

Later that same year, 1980, Jeff and I had tickets to see the Talking Heads in concert. Jeff couldn’t go because his sister was going to be in a beauty pageant that weekend. I used his ticket to invite a girl I knew from San Francisco State University. That first date worked out pretty well. She and I are still together over 40 years later. 

Adios Jeff.

I am so sorry for your loss of Jeff. He was a wonderful guy. I worked with him at NAC a long time ago. We would bump into each other around  town and would always stop and chat. I’ll miss these visits. 
Leslie Moss 

I met Jeff when we were both 13 years old. 8th grade, Mill Valley California.
  Along with Sutton FreeBarin-Smith, the three of us were always doing something together. Hiking Mt. Tamalpias, learning to surf at Stinson Beach or biking somewhere. We started backpacking our first summer in high school. That was the beginning of many trips into the high Sierra Nevada.
   The summer out of high school I followed Jeff up to Alaska where we worked the canneries on Kodiak Island. In the fall, Jeff left for Steamboat Springs to ski the winter. I was about a month behind him. We did two seasons in Steamboat where Jeff succeeded in turning me into a damn good skier.
  I decided that I needed to get serious about life and enrolled in a maritime academy in Baltimore. When I returned home, for a summer break, Jeff was working as a river guide for Echo. He invited me up for my first river trip. We ran the American river. What fun! My wife, Lynn, and I are still running rivers any chance we get.   
   I know many people who dream and talk about doing something adventurous. Jeff would just do it.
  It was such a pleasure to get one of Jeff's post cards from New Guinea, Nepal, India, New Zealand, or Tibet, where Jeff was running rivers for Sobek.
  I've heard my sister, Sean, tell a story many times. She and her future husband, Cameron, were backpacking and trekking throughout Asia. They were standing in line at an ice cream stand just outside of the Taj Mahal, when out of the blue she heard she heard a voice say "Sean Collins, I presume". It was Jeff.
   It's been many years since I last talked with Jeff, but he has always been there in the back of mind. I never imagined he would not be there when I finally got around to giving him a call.
   My deepest condolences to all of your family and friends.
   Miss you,    miss you old friend.

   Brian

I remember Jeff as part of the Park City Mountain Resort Clan over a span of many years and changes. I am going into my 31st year at Park City and I remember him as a gentle quiet soul with strength and love of teaching. He enjoyed helping people learn & become better in sports and share his love of the outdoors. So sad to hear this news condolences prayers and loving light to his family may you have strength to endure and carry his memory in your hearts. Ja

Moab friends and staff of Canyonlands Field Institute are shocked and saddened to learn that Jeff reached the Big Takeout (early!) this week. Jeff worked over twenty years as a Naturalist Guide for CFI, initially full seasons in the late 1990's then as a reliable guest guide every year through 2019. Jeff shared his skills as river guide, trip leader, camp cook and teacher with countless school children, Elderhostelers, and families as well as kindly mentored many new, young guides. His youthful energy, calm demeanor, depth of experience and devotion to the CFI mission were so appreciated. We shared our homes, dinners, life events, and of course "there we were..." stories. Our hearts go out to Cyndee, Hunter and Abigail. He was "late" in life to commit to marriage and children and then SO happy and proud he did.  We know Jeff is having perfect runs every time on that heavenly river. He is now a steadfast guardian angel for you all.   

Jeff was a valuable and highly respected member of our team at Blooming Property Management. He was dedicated to his job and loved working with the clients. He helped ensure their homes and cars were in the best of shape. I got to know more about Jeff during our many trips to the airport dropping off or picking up client vehicles. World traveler, worker of many professions…mostly in service to others, very knowledgeable and highly skilled. Though his life was unexpectedly cut short, Jeff is one of few people I know who has truly lived. I will miss his ever calming demeanor, his immeasurable help to me in doing my job and his friendship. My condolences especially to Hunter, Abigail and Cyndee. He spoke of you often as you were his world. 

OBITUARY

Jeff Zenger

26 December, 1956 – 23 August, 2021

Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services