It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of our beloved father, Henry W. Jeffers the III. Henry passed away in his sleep on Thursday, March 13th at the age of 92.
A man of unwavering strength who lived life to the fullest, Henry graduated from Princeton High School. He went on to college and graduated in 1955 from Rutgers University, Cook College of Agriculture. He attended Harvard Business School in 1956, he met through one of his roommates, Joseph Saliba, his future wife, Janet Brox Jeffers. Henry enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1957 and was a member of the Signal Corps where he became a military photographer.
He started working for the family business Walker-Gordon Laboratory Company in 1958, Henry held a management position and rose to the position of President in 1971. For all those who knew Henry, he was a man with a curiosity that infiltrated all his many interests. This ranged from his early passions which included Trap and Skeet shooting, saltwater and flyfishing, and growing exotic chrysanthemums. Through the years he developed a passion for astronomy and astrophotography.
Henry joined the Nassau Gun Club in 1972 and won numerous trophies. For many years, he and his cooking team hosted the Lady’s Day luncheons. Through the 1980s and 1990s, Henry guided the Walker Gordon Laboratory Company through difficult years which led to the eventual success of prosperity and profitability. He developed company lands for housing developments and restored and leased the IRL Research Facility. Henry was part of a group who were in a partnership with the State, Town, and County connected to the 800-acre Plainsboro Preserve.
In 1982 Henry and his wife, Janet, purchased a home on Martha’s Vineyard and became fully engaged in the East Chop community where he developed a sailing program for children at the East Chop Yacht Club. He was Commodore from 1989-1999. He retired from Walker-Gordon and spent many joyful summers on Martha’s Vineyard.
Henry’s wife, Janet, passed away in March 2017; he is survived by his children, Katherine Jeffers Goldfarb and husband, Robert, of Princeton, New Jersey; his son, James Jeffers and his wife, Raquel; and his two grandchildren, Juliette and Jasper of Hopewell, New Jersey. It is with these thoughts Henry rests quietly in peace.
A celebration of Henry’s life will be announced in the near future. Arrangements are under the direction of at A.S. Cole Son & Co., 22 North Main Street, Cranbury, NJ.
