Jeffery Harrah Stair Wood

JEFFERY HARRAH STAIR WOOD

Jeff died January 14, 2022, ending his courageous two-decade battle with a neurological autoimmune disease.

Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Jeff grew up in Philadelphia and attended the Episcopal Academy where his perpetual lounge-chair attitude was noted and appreciated. At Episcopal he was on the yearbook staff and a member of the debating society and glee club.

Jeff majored in English at Princeton, producing a senior thesis titled The Breakdown of Elements of Novelistic Structure in Modern English & French Prose Fiction. A member of Cap and Gown, he was a Keyceptor, Orange Key guide, and Undergraduate Schools Committee member. He played lead guitar in a highly successful local rock bank called The Hustlers, who played not only on Prospect Street, but at colleges up and down the east coast. The high point was playing backup for The Exciters at JP. He was suave and debonair, driving around in his Mercedes 300 “Gullwing” roadster, and always had the best-looking date at the ball. He was fun loving, smiled a lot and had a quick, quirky and wry sense of humor, an all around “good guy” and bon vivant. He was always a natty, if somewhat unconventional dresser. He roomed with Phil Rodenberger, Curt Clay, and Dick Berger his senior year.

Upon graduation, Jeff wound up in the US Army-of course not in combat, but producing recruiting and propaganda films-remember this was the Vietnam era. After the army, Jeff traveled widely in Europe on a motorcycle then stayed in Paris for six months where he learned to cook. He traveled back to France frequently over the years.

After Paris, Jeff settled in Manhattan, where he devoted himself to writing. He was always very artsy and had several plays produced off-Broadway. In 2005 The New York Times ran a column describing what it was like for Jeff and his wife, Pamela, to live in a penthouse adjoining the town house of then-mayor Mike Bloomberg. “He has not popped over for a cup of sugar,” reported Pamela. Unfortunately, Jeff spent his last years a semi invalid and in a wheel chair, but was still able to enjoy a fine restaurant and a glass or two of the bubbly. He was an only child so never learned to share-if he saw you eying his plate, you got a stern reminder of that status!

He will be missed.

The class extends heartfelt condolences to Pamela, the love of Jeff’s life.