Jeffrey Michael Andrus
Jeffrey Michael Andrus, 51, of Haddonfield, NJ, passed away April 14 after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer.
Born the oldest son of John and Penny Andrus, he was raised in Mendham, NJ.
Always a good student-athlete, Jeff was a member of the Class of 1992 at Mendham High School where he was captain of both the basketball and baseball teams, receiving county and state recognition for his efforts. He matriculated at Lafayette College, where he joined the Zeta Psi fraternity and played a year of baseball before turning to more important matters. Too shy to approach a young coed wearing a Lafayette sweatshirt on the Avalon beach the summer before college, Jeff found himself, a couple of years later, set up on a date with Alison Murphy-the very same girl-at a party where roommates choose your match. They married in 2001.
After graduating from Lafayette, Jeff did a short stint as a reporter for the Express-Times in Easton, PA, and was a writer for Mealey’s Publications, before assuming the reins as Editorial Director of a start-up company, HarrisMartin Publishing. He successfully managed the company for 23 years. After moving operations close to the family home in Haddonfield, he and Alison eventually bought the company.
As a member of the Tavistock Country Club, Jeff honed his golf game using the hit-and-hunt method. Although erratic, his prodigious length off the tee allowed him to record the rarest of a golf scores – a double eagle 2 on a par 5.
Children Audrey, George and Ben were the center of Jeff’s universe, so it was no shock that Jeff jumped at the opportunity to coach them in the sports he played. But, nothing amazed him more than to discover he had two State Champion Cross Country Runners in the family. Even being confined to his wheelchair, eyesight so impaired he saw only blurred images, he wanted to get to the races, share in their success and let them know they had a father who cared. “What’s Audrey doing? Who’s running this week?” were always his questions and the answers made him smile.
From high school buddies to the Zeta Psi brothers, Lafayette classmates, and the Haddonfield “Ridge,” Jeff was fortunate to have shared his time with great friends. To his family, he was one you called on to officiate a wedding or make the toast; he did the clever mini bios in the wedding programs and could make you feel you knew someone after just a few sentences. He set the example for siblings, nieces and nephews, and was always there for both a good laugh and a heart-to-heart conversation. They all lost a go-to guy.
Jeff is survived by his wife Alison (nee Murphy); his children Audrey, George & Benjamin Andrus; his parents John & Pamela Andrus of Mendham, NJ; his sister Heather Boyle, of Fair Haven, NJ, and brothers Timothy John “TJ” Andrus (Reagen) of Georgetown, MA, and Michael Andrus (Katy) of Wayland, MA.
A remembrance gathering will be held on Friday, May 1st at Tavistock Country Club, 100 Tavistock Lane, Tavistock, NJ 08033 from 5-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Jeff may be made to the HMHS Boys Cross Country Track and Field Association (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=HTX3H29ALK4GS ) Donations may also be mailed: Payable to HMHS Boys XCTF Association, Inc., c/o Karinne Lindner, Treasurer, 40 Trueman Ave., Haddonfield, NJ 08033.