Anytime Jeff would answer his phone, it was almost always with an enthusiastic "Hey buddy/hun, how's it going?", which of course was immediately followed by rapid-fire questions. It was always best to be prepared for a short interview, even if you didn't fully finish your thought and got interrupted. The main objective for why YOU called HIM in the first place may not have been successful, either. But you couldn't help but laugh at how derailed the conversation got, even if you were left with more questions than answers at the end.
As a frequent visitor of the O'Brien household for decades, particularly in my formative years, Jeff is one of the most hospitable people I've ever met, and I strive to be the same, though it's much easier said than done, being as gracious and thoughtful as he was. Going as far as to make sure my favorite drinks and snacks were available, even if I was the only one who would eat them. Once I was of driving age, I would swing by unannounced to visit Amanda, and Jeff would open his door without hesitation.
"Hey what are you girls up to tonight?" he would ask us. "You girls going partyin'?"
Whether we were 7 or 17, anyone who knows Amanda and I also know that the most "partyin'" behavior that we were partaking in was spending hours in her room, playing video games, having photoshoots, driving around on a pocket bike, swimming in the pool, and driving any adult who was supervising us absolutely crazy with our antics (Nana, in particular, should be owed reparations.) Regardless, Jeff was always up for a fun time and never got truly angry with us. What was important to him was that we were safe and making fun memories together.
Many of us, including myself, have countless memories of Jeff that we look back on smiling and laughing.
I have the personal experience of dining at Outback and Jeff consistently ordering SEVERAL appetizers. After the Bloomin' Onion, loaded cheese fries, bread, caeser salads, and your own main course, you were likely left feeling so bloated and full to the point where you might question "Will I ever need to eat again?", only then to realize that "Oh no! He's gonna order dessert now!" However, the thing is, Jeff didn't have that much of a sweet tooth and would often pass on dessert. Truly a blessing and a curse.
This next story was told to me by Amanda, who was driving with her dad from Gainesville to Tampa, a trip that they took weekly for about 17 years. Somehow, through a series of what I imagine are mishaps and unfortunate events, they were close to running out of gas. Amanda exclaims from the backseat, "We're not gonna make it!" While Jeff, driving and full of self-assured confidence, responds with, "We're gonna make it! It's fine! Don't worry!" Minutes later, the car is stopped on the side of I-75, out of gas. Jeff and the family then have to walk down this busy highway to get gas from a nearby gas station. I'm sure Amanda herself can tell that story way better and probably has a treasure trove of similar stories up her sleeve.
Another story that isn't mine but one of my favorites to hear is from one of Joey's early childhood birthday parties that was held at my dad's house. The theme was Barney, which was a huge cultural moment at the time. It was decided that Joe was going to dress up in a Barney costume and surprise about a dozen kids at the party. With the camera rolling, Barney makes his grand entrance. The kids are excitedly screaming, jumping up and down, praising the deity that is Barney in the flesh, their lord and savior, when Jeff, near the camera, loudly says,"Hey, Barney! Want a beer?"
I could go on and on with my first and second-hand memories of Jeff. I will dearly miss the goofy, fun-loving, charismatic, and hospitable man with a big heart. I always believed his goal was to make everyone around him happy and he will always be remembered with smiles and laughs, which I think is what he wanted most.
