Eulogy of Jeffrey T. Kace
 presented by
 Charlie Kace '02
August 19, 2006
Wilbraham, Massachusetts

                Jeff Kace was truly one of a kind. I was blessed to have him as a little brother and best friend.

Growing up, Jeff and I were as close as two brothers could be. We started off playing on the beach in Duxbury as toddlers. 

When we moved to Wilbraham, we used to enjoy drawing pictures in the fresh poured concrete of a new home (which my mother and the building contractors loved).

We used to have some intense driveway basketball games that would last hours. Jeff, I would really like to take back the comments I made about your jump shot looking like a Tim Wakefield Knuckle ball.

I was extremely lucky to be on the same varsity football team my senior year of high school and Jeff’s freshman year. I cherish the memories of standing on the sideline with Jeff. He could put a sarcastic spin on the game and bring the biggest smile to anybody’s face, no matter the game's outcome.

Lacrosse was also a big part of Jeff’s life. He loved every second of playing lacrosse with his other big brothers Will Crowley, Dave Gatti, and Jeff Disa.

When most high school students begin the college search, they worry. Not Jeff… Jeff flew out to Athens one weekend and we were supposed to visit the University of Dayton. That Thursday night, after about 5 hours at the Crystal on Court Street, Jeff had made a decision. Jeff and one of my college roommates (Josh Burns) decided to call my father at about 3:30 in the morning. I believe the conversation went like this:

“Old man Kace, it’s Burns and Jeffrey. I just wanted to let you know that Jeffrey is going to OU, and I just saved you thirty grand!!!!!!" (University of Dayton is a little more expensive than OU). We never made the trip to Dayton.

                Jeff decided to rush a fraternity his freshman year. I backed off completely because I felt he could make his own decision. Jeff joined The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. He said as a collective group he could recognize the closeness that every brother shared throughout 20 South College. That is evident today with 40 or so fraternity brothers that have traveled from all over the country from places as far as Denver, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and the great state of Ohio.

When Jeff graduated from Ohio University, he came back to the city he loved; Boston. He moved in with his 6 or 7 closest friends from childhood (sometimes 8 or 9 depending on who was on the couches). Jeff also got a job as a corporate recruiter soon after his move. I was very proud of Jeff and he was doing an excellent job. Jeff’s co-workers always would joke about how he was always the first one in the office and the last one to leave. Jeff loved his job because he was working with people, which was his specialty.

                Jeff was always there for you. He was the first one at your apartment when you needed help moving couches up three stories of stairs in 90 degree heat. He would also always make himself available if you needed to talk things out or needed advice.

In closing, Jeff would want me to thank:

The Town of Wilbraham

Our Neighbors on Bittersweet, Alder and Winterberry

The 50 people from Ohio University that made the trip out

The Brothers of Phi Gamma Delta

All of his friends and family

And… He would also want me to thank his old college roommate, Pat Susie, for keeping his shirt on during the services.

One Dad’s weekend, Jeff was being introduced as:

“I would like to introduce you to Jeff Kace. He is sort of a big deal around here”.

Jeff, YOU ARE A BIG DEAL, A HUGE DEAL!

I will always love and remember you.

Charlie

Eulogy of Jeffrey T. Kace
 presented by
 Brian Kishpaugh '05
August 19, 2006
Wilbraham, Massachusetts

I met Jeff Kace pledging the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta in 2001. One night winter quarter, we were hanging out in the bar having a couple beers discussing sports and women. (Typical conversation between Jeff and me throughout the years). When he asked me if I would like to be his roommate the following year in the fraternity house, I didn’t know what to expect. At the time we didn’t really know each other, but for some reason, it didn’t matter. We just knew that we would become the best of friends except of course when Notre Dame played Boston College in football.

Jeff, much like the rest of us, was a sports fanatic, which led to many debates over which teams were the best or arguments about meaningless sport facts. Coincidentally, the last conversation between Jeff and me was when he called to settle a debate between his friends over which hand Boomer Esiason threw with.  Jeff was always a prankster in the fraternity house. Every time someone went home for the weekend, he would be the first to say: “Let’s go flip their rooms.” If anyone was hanging out on the front porch, Jeff would be seen with a huge bucket of water ready to dump over the balcony onto the unsuspecting victims below. He even got me once or twice. I will never forget the great times we had together from Christmas in November, the winter formals, FIJI island and especially the bar nights in Athens.

Jeff was always there for me as well as all our friends.  He even took on the challenging responsibility of taking care of me on my 21^st birthday, which was more work than you will ever know. I will never forget that, which truly showed how compassionate and generous he was. Jeff was the true definition of a friend. He was always bigger than life and carried a smile on his face wherever he went. Jeff was always a people person, who would normally be seen spending his free time with friends. If you ever needed someone to accompany you on a trip, long or short, Jeff would be your guy.

It was apparent that his parents instilled tremendous values and morals in Jeff, which were displayed on a daily basis. Jeff also looked up to Charlie, and like an older brother, he was a true role model.

I know those four years at Ohio University were Jeff’s favorite times as they were mine. Our group of friends became very close over the years living together at college and this has truly been one of the hardest things for us to deal with in our short lives. Jeff, you will never be forgotten and always be one of the boys. We will never stop telling stories celebrating your life and truly what a great friend you are.

God Bless.

Eulogy of Jeffrey T. Kace
 presented by
 Charlie Kace '02
August 19, 2006
Wilbraham, Massachusetts

                Jeff Kace was truly one of a kind. I was blessed to have him as a little brother and best friend.

Growing up, Jeff and I were as close as two brothers could be. We started off playing on the beach in Duxbury as toddlers. 

When we moved to Wilbraham, we used to enjoy drawing pictures in the fresh poured concrete of a new home (which my mother and the building contractors loved).

We used to have some intense driveway basketball games that would last hours. Jeff, I would really like to take back the comments I made about your jump shot looking like a Tim Wakefield Knuckle ball.

I was extremely lucky to be on the same varsity football team my senior year of high school and Jeff’s freshman year. I cherish the memories of standing on the sideline with Jeff. He could put a sarcastic spin on the game and bring the biggest smile to anybody’s face, no matter the game's outcome.

Lacrosse was also a big part of Jeff’s life. He loved every second of playing lacrosse with his other big brothers Will Crowley, Dave Gatti, and Jeff Disa.

When most high school students begin the college search, they worry. Not Jeff… Jeff flew out to Athens one weekend and we were supposed to visit the University of Dayton. That Thursday night, after about 5 hours at the Crystal on Court Street, Jeff had made a decision. Jeff and one of my college roommates (Josh Burns) decided to call my father at about 3:30 in the morning. I believe the conversation went like this:

“Old man Kace, it’s Burns and Jeffrey. I just wanted to let you know that Jeffrey is going to OU, and I just saved you thirty grand!!!!!!" (University of Dayton is a little more expensive than OU). We never made the trip to Dayton.

                Jeff decided to rush a fraternity his freshman year. I backed off completely because I felt he could make his own decision. Jeff joined The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. He said as a collective group he could recognize the closeness that every brother shared throughout 20 South College. That is evident today with 40 or so fraternity brothers that have traveled from all over the country from places as far as Denver, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and the great state of Ohio.

When Jeff graduated from Ohio University, he came back to the city he loved; Boston. He moved in with his 6 or 7 closest friends from childhood (sometimes 8 or 9 depending on who was on the couches). Jeff also got a job as a corporate recruiter soon after his move. I was very proud of Jeff and he was doing an excellent job. Jeff’s co-workers always would joke about how he was always the first one in the office and the last one to leave. Jeff loved his job because he was working with people, which was his specialty.

                Jeff was always there for you. He was the first one at your apartment when you needed help moving couches up three stories of stairs in 90 degree heat. He would also always make himself available if you needed to talk things out or needed advice.

In closing, Jeff would want me to thank:

The Town of Wilbraham

Our Neighbors on Bittersweet, Alder and Winterberry

The 50 people from Ohio University that made the trip out

The Brothers of Phi Gamma Delta

All of his friends and family

And… He would also want me to thank his old college roommate, Pat Susie, for keeping his shirt on during the services.

One Dad’s weekend, Jeff was being introduced as:

“I would like to introduce you to Jeff Kace. He is sort of a big deal around here”.

Jeff, YOU ARE A BIG DEAL, A HUGE DEAL!

I will always love and remember you.

Charlie

Eulogy of Jeffrey T. Kace
 presented by
 Brian Kishpaugh '05
August 19, 2006
Wilbraham, Massachusetts

I met Jeff Kace pledging the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta in 2001. One night winter quarter, we were hanging out in the bar having a couple beers discussing sports and women. (Typical conversation between Jeff and me throughout the years). When he asked me if I would like to be his roommate the following year in the fraternity house, I didn’t know what to expect. At the time we didn’t really know each other, but for some reason, it didn’t matter. We just knew that we would become the best of friends except of course when Notre Dame played Boston College in football.

Jeff, much like the rest of us, was a sports fanatic, which led to many debates over which teams were the best or arguments about meaningless sport facts. Coincidentally, the last conversation between Jeff and me was when he called to settle a debate between his friends over which hand Boomer Esiason threw with.  Jeff was always a prankster in the fraternity house. Every time someone went home for the weekend, he would be the first to say: “Let’s go flip their rooms.” If anyone was hanging out on the front porch, Jeff would be seen with a huge bucket of water ready to dump over the balcony onto the unsuspecting victims below. He even got me once or twice. I will never forget the great times we had together from Christmas in November, the winter formals, FIJI island and especially the bar nights in Athens.

Jeff was always there for me as well as all our friends.  He even took on the challenging responsibility of taking care of me on my 21^st birthday, which was more work than you will ever know. I will never forget that, which truly showed how compassionate and generous he was. Jeff was the true definition of a friend. He was always bigger than life and carried a smile on his face wherever he went. Jeff was always a people person, who would normally be seen spending his free time with friends. If you ever needed someone to accompany you on a trip, long or short, Jeff would be your guy.

It was apparent that his parents instilled tremendous values and morals in Jeff, which were displayed on a daily basis. Jeff also looked up to Charlie, and like an older brother, he was a true role model.

I know those four years at Ohio University were Jeff’s favorite times as they were mine. Our group of friends became very close over the years living together at college and this has truly been one of the hardest things for us to deal with in our short lives. Jeff, you will never be forgotten and always be one of the boys. We will never stop telling stories celebrating your life and truly what a great friend you are.

God Bless.