Alzheimer’s Disease. His loving wife of 47 years, Mary, was by his side.
Jeff will be welcomed in heaven by his father Armando Oliveri, mother Agnes Ash, step mother Mary
Oliveri, brother-in-law Joseph McSorley, and beloved niece Sarah Elizabeth Gardner.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ash; his children, Amy Oliveri-Ash, Alan (Amy) Ash, Daniel (Amy) Ash,
Jeffrey Scott (Monica) Ash, David (Gloria) Ash; his siblings, Alan (Cynthia) Ash, Elizabeth (Joe) McSorley,
Mary Ann (Dave) Oliveri; his grandchildren Koby Welch, Audrie Welch, Kelley Welch, Sean Welch,
Kaylee Ash, Greyson Ash, Ryan Ash, Jeffrey Dylan Ash, Ethan Ash, Alan Ash, Jesse Ash, Elaine Ash; his
sister-in law Elizabeth (Ted) Burr; and his aunt Nancy Dublowski.
Jeff, also known as Sonny to his father’s family, was born August 19, 1951 in Buffalo, New York. He
graduated from high school in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin in 1969 and enlisted in the US Army as a Military
Intelligence Analyst in 1971. While stationed in Alaska he met the love of his life, Mary Louise Brown, and
they were married on June 23, 1973. He was later commissioned as an officer in the US Air Force after
completing his Bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University in 1980. He retired as a Major in the US
Air Force in 1993, settling down in Deming, NM, and later relocating to Alabama to be closer to family.
During his 20-year military career he was stationed in Shemya, Alaska; Fort Bragg, North Carolina;
Augsburg, West Germany; Fort Hood, Texas; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Scott AFB, Illinois; and two
tours at Kadena AFB on Okinawa, Japan. While at Scott AFB, he inspected and certified the handling of
classified material on Air Force One.
Jeff was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a life-long learner
with a love of public education and commitment to community service. He obtained Master’s degrees in
Community Resource Management, Elementary Education, and Educational Administration. After retiring
from the military, Jeff entered the public-school teaching ranks through the Troops to Teachers program,
where he taught at the elementary and middle school levels. He loved coaching Science Games teams
and sharing model rocketry with his students. He was also a Scout Master at church and a youth soccer
coach for his sons’ teams.
Jeff was a notorious jokester known for developing elaborate pranks and executing them flawlessly, and
he loved to embarrass his children. He never met a stranger, and a trip to the grocery store for a loaf of
bread and a gallon of milk could easily turn into an hour-long conversation with someone he met in line.
His love of people nearly equaled his love of animals. Over the course of his life, he had several pets
including dogs, rabbits, birds, and even a cow, and he would often stop traffic to shuttle wandering turtles
to safety. More than anything, he loved playing with his grandkids—laughing, wrestling, running around,
and just being silly.
Jeff will be remembered and missed for his dedication to the military and public education, kindness to his
family and friends as well as strangers, and his wicked sense of humor. Never one to get too emotional,
he would not want us to ever say goodbye…he would say “Party On”! And so, we will.
An incurable disease held him captive for years.
Now he has escaped.
Now he is free.
SERVICE
Details yet to be determined
Johns- Ridout's Funeral Parlors
2116 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35233
No flowers, please. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to:
Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama
400 Office Park Dr
Birmingham, AL 35223
Or
Alzheimer’s Disease Center
University of Alabama Birmingham
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