Jeffrey Speiser

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 14, 1946, and graduated from the Yeshiva of Flatbush in 1964. After graduating from Brandeis University in 1968, he served in the Peace Corps, training in Hawaii before heading to the Philippines, where he taught English in the mountainous region of Baguio on the island of Luzon. After his Peace Corps service, he attended New York University School of Law, earning his J.D. in 1973. He paid part of his tuition by tending bar at City Center shows.

He served as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn (Kings County, New York) from 1973 to 1977. He initially worked in the Appeals Bureau and then joined the Homicide Bureau. In 1977, he became a federal prosecutor, joining the United States Department of Justice Strike Force on Organized Crime and Racketeering in Newark, New Jersey. In 1981 he joined the United States Attorney’s Office in Newark and became chief of the Bank Fraud and Robbery Unit.

After leaving government service, he joined the firm of Rosen, Gelman & Weiss, then moved to Hellring Lindeman & Siegal. In 1990 he left to become a partner in the newly established firm of Stern and Greenberg, now Stern, Kilcullen, and Rufolo. He retired in 2016. He also served as counsel to the Planning Board of the Township of Maplewood from 1988 to 1993.

Along with his wife, Willa, survivors include his son, Matthew (Phoebe Geer), his daughter, Rebecca Skipper (Nicholas), and five grandchildren: Nathaniel Speiser, Theodore Speiser, Hayden Skipper, Whit Skipper, and Charlie Skipper.

In addition to good chocolate, good books, and almost all movies, Jeff enjoyed discussing politics, listening to the music of the 1960s, walking with and talking to his joyful and much-missed Portuguese water dog, Atticus, and wondering if this would be the year the Mets were good again. Like so many sons and daughters of Brooklyn, he never quite got over being abandoned by the Dodgers, but the Mets were fun.

A funeral service for Jeffrey will be held beginning at 1:00 pm at Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Rd Livingston NJ 07039 followed by a catered reception from 2 pm to 4 pm.