By Jim Cadwell

Hello-  

I learned sadly tonight that a grade school glass mate of mine and for some of you, classmate as well, was killed in a severe and random traffic accident today, Thursday 1/17/02 in Los Angeles.   His name is Jeff Markese.  He was driving a suburban to work on the 710 freeway when struck by an out of control tractor trailer rig that smashed over the guard rail from the opposite lanes.  Completely random and complete tragic.  Jeff was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Oddly, I saw reports of the huge pileup and backup on TV briefly in the afternoon and they mentioned the man who had died, but pronounced it differently that I know Markese to be, which is long e's.  Oddly, I had a strange sensation about the accident, like it wasn't just another big accident on an LA freeway.  Weird.  

My friend Bob Canfield told me this evening after he hear from George Goley,  both who went to Mayfield High with me, and Jeff.  I went through grade school with Jeff and in 6th grade, competed for the attention of the fair and lovely Barbara Russell.  A great competition but friendly for sure.  

Jeff lived in Burbank here in LA but I hardly ever talked to him due to separate lives and one time when I saw him at an Angels baseball game a few years ago that mutual friend Dennis Tagarelli invited me to.  It was the Cleveland Indians, our 'home' team.  The three of us chatted (Jeff had a son there I believe) and remembered old days a bit, but times were different.  He was relaxed and mellow.  In grade school, he (and I) were high energy cut-ups.  We were 'middle aged' now in our mid 40's.  Sigh...  

You can read a  news report at the web site below about the accident and a bit about Jeff.  A video that shows the incident, but does not mention Jeff's name can also be accessed.  Very horrific.  I did see additional clips on two LA  TV stations tonight which showed Jeff's picture.  He was a family law commissioner and had a family.  The web site report tells more about him and how well he was liked by co-workers, etc.  

I started writing this an hour after learning of Jeff's death and still am a bit shocked.  At this time, I can only send this, and my sincere condolences to his family, co-workers and friends, and to Dennis, who was a very close friend of Jeff's.  I hope to talk to Dennis soon.   Life is very random and today bears that out.  I cannot explain this.  Who can?  Of all the thousands and thousands and thousands of cars on the road in LA today, it had to be Jeff's, going to work early on a Thursday morning that got hit.   As 'they' say, "you never know."   In this case, I thought you should know.

Sadly,  

Jim Cadwell