Jeff Grove Obituary

Raised in Colorado, Jeff graduated from Denver's George Washington High School. He then drank from a fire hose of scientific knowledge until he graduated from Caltech in 1969. There was also a semester at the delightful Pomona College where he studied humanities and fine arts. Upon graduation Jeff joined the U.S. Public Health Service commissioned corps as an alternative to being drafted. After two years of working in the Washington, DC area on diagnostic X-ray machine safety standards and test methods, he left the service as a senior assistant sanitary engineer, a rank equivalent to a captain in the army. He never owned a uniform and was never required to get a haircut during his time of service! Jeff then took up residence around DuPont Circle in Washington, DC, living the life of a hippie and working seasonally in electronics for small companies. After belatedly falling in love with backpacking, cross country skiing, and rock climbing in Maryland and West Virginia, Jeff returned to Denver in 1981 to pursue these activities. Jeff worked for small electronic companies in Denver for ten years and then in Boulder. He successfully avoided both large companies and management roles, remaining in design and development his entire career. His last job was for a high-precision timing instrument company, doing very exciting applied research and precision instrument development for eight years. He retired in 2006. Jeff was an avid hiker and camper who dared to go where many will not or cannot . He climbed Pisco ( 18,871 ft) and Chopicalqui (20,846 ft) in the Cordillera Blanca region of the Peruvian Andes. For 25 years he participated in an annual spring backpacking trip deep into the secluded canyons of southern Utah. He also spent countless days hiking, backpacking, and skiing in the Colorado Rockies. In addition to his love for the outdoors, Jeff enjoyed contra and ballroom dancing, biking, reading, and modern physics. In 2003, Jeff founded the Cosmology Discussion Group through the Boulder Public Library. His guidance and contributions provided inspiration for many in their pursuit of scientific knowledge of the cosmos. Creative academic discussions with friends and colleagues, on almost any subject, were a joy to him. He moved to Frasier Meadows in September 2015, where he thrived in the social and intellectual diversity. Jeff was an avid supporter of local folk music and regularly attended concerts of Renaissance music. He appreciated all kinds of art and was always ready to go to any art museum. He created some amazing artwork himself in the early 1970's! Jeff was a loyal and steadfast friend. His trustworthiness and incredibly high integrity were a gift to those who knew him. His sense of humor and playful approach to life were a delight. Some would say that Jeff was an acquired taste, but those who understood and appreciated him cherish his memory. Jeff is survived by his sister Anne Grove (Bryan) of Parker, his best buddy since childhood Alan M. "Rusty" Bieber, Jr. (Nancy) of Centennial, his long time friend Nancy Ellinghaus (Larry Utter) and good friend Annie Gifford, both of Boulder. Contributions in memory of Jeff can be made the Avalon Ballroom ( https:// boulderdance.org/donations ). A celebration of life is planned for Jeff's Birthday, Tuesday evening, May 3. There will be stories, music, dancing, love and laughter. If you are interested in attending or want to be kept up to date on the status of this event, please send a message to [email protected] .