Jeff Sides passing

[laxfan25]

It is with a very heavy heart that I report that my good friend and fellow official Jeff Sides has passed away this morning. For those that don't know Jeff, he was a long time lacrosse player, official, assigner and fan of the game.
Jeff played goalie for the Marin Lacrosse Club I believe, as well as the Wright-Patterson team in Dayton, OH. He has been a stalwart of officiating in West Michigan for many years, and has held the thankless job of assigning the hundreds of MS and HS games in the area.

Jeff was diagnosed with esophogeal cancer just four weeks ago, and his passing came about very quickly, serving to end the intense pain he was suffering.

Please keep Jeff, his soul and his wife Pam in your prayers. He will be greatly missed by all that were privileged to know him. Arrangements are pending at this time, but Pam believes they will be on Monday.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

This news is very sudden and sad. My thoughts and prayers are with the Sides family, and Jeff will be missed by all of us.

[stripes182]

As a former Michigan official, I'll be sure to keep him in my thoughts. My heart goes out to his family and friends and it is consoling to know he is no longer suffering. Best wishes to Jeff, his family and his lacrosse family in Michigan.

[popasmurf]

This is horrible news. Jeff was our club president (a very thankless job) for the Wright Patterson (and later Dayton) Wings for several years. He was a GREAT guy. I had lost track of him when he moved from Ohio. I will let as many of the old club members know about this as possible. Laxfan25, if you have information on arrangements/flowers, etc. PLEASE let me know.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

Courtesy of LF25:

Jeffrey P. Sides, b: 06/13/056 d: 04/20/07

Jeffrey P. Sides, of Caledonia Township, Michigan, died on April 20, 2007 at Spectrum Health, Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. He was born June 13, 1956 to Jack and Eileen Sides in Indianapolis, IN. He married Pamela Todd in 1990 in Coldwater, MI. He is survived by his wife, Pam; mother, Eileen Sides of Indianapolis; brother, Jay (Amy) Sides of Oakland, CA; sister, Nancy (David) Starke of Manhatten Beach, CA; mother-in-law, Leila Todd of Allen, MI; and brother-in-law, Bill (Judy) Todd of Coldwater, MI. He is also survived by five nieces, Molly and Katie Starke, Maureen and Audrey Sides, Dawn (nee Todd) and Jeremy Whitford, and one nephew, Tim Todd.

Jeff was employed since 2000 at Dematic Corp. of Grand Rapids in the Software Applications Group as a software project lead. He is a former resident of Dayton, OH and of the Silicon Valley in California working in the defense industry.

He was a certified MHSAA boy's and [COC and] CCLA men's lacrosse official, an APICS Certified Program Manager, and PMI Certified Project Management Professional. Jeff graduated in 1974 from Pike High School in Indianapolis, IN; Purdue University in 1979 with a BS in Industrial Management and from the University of Southern California in 1984 with a Master of Science in Systems Management. Jeff greatly enjoyed the sport of lacrosse and served as an official for the past nine years. He was a huge fan of Purdue University football and basketball as well as auto racing.

Services for Jeff Sides will be held at the George White Funeral Home, Quincy, Michigan on Monday, April 23 at 1:00 p.m. with interment following in the Allen Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled Sunday, April 22 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Monday from 11:30 a.m. until time of the service.

Memorials for Jeff may be made to the US Lacrosse Foundation or charity of one's choice. Memorials for Jeff may be made to the US Lacrosse Foundation or to the charity of your choice.

Published in the Grand Rapids Press on 4/21/2007.

[mack8]

This was a very tragic and sudden passing. Please keep his family in your prayers. He was a smart and hard working man. He truly was the man responsible for the growth of Western Michigan Lacrosse.