Episcopal Press and News

Minnesota Photographer Jeff Smith succumbs to cancer

Episcopal News Service. October 3, 2007 [100307-06]

Jeff Smith, photographer and longtime friend of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, died September 14 after a nine-month battle with brain cancer.

Smith's photographs appeared for many years in Soundings, where they often played a part in the newspaper's numerous national awards; on the diocesan website; and with the news offerings of Episcopal News Service.

Smith was born in Milwaukee and lived in Chicago for a time. He served his country in the United States Army as a Green Beret, both actively and in the reserves. Airborne, he traveled and parachuted into his destinations in Panama, Alaska and Viet Nam. He was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

In 1989, Jeff moved to Minneapolis, where he founded Jeffrey G. Smith Photography. He married graphic designer Jane Eschweiler in 1994, and the pair often worked together on graphic arts projects.

Smith took an active part in his neighborhood, and was a community director with Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT), now known as Aeon. He was a supporter of many other community service projects, both within and outside the Episcopal Church.

A great thrill for Smith came in April 2007 when he was able to travel to the Episcopal Communicators conference in Virginia, to meet and talk with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

Smith is survived by his wife, Jane Eschweiler; mother, Helga Smith of Milwaukee; sister, Barbara Gray, and other family members.

His family and friends gathered September 20 at St. James on the Parkway, for an evening of storytelling in his memory and a memorial service was held September 21 at St. Mark's Cathedral.