With heavy hearts, Jeffrey DuRocher’s family announces his passing on December 1, 2023. He died at home holding his wife’s hands, following a long battle with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s. His children had all been able to share final moments with him as well. It seems that Jeff finally found a problem that he could not solve.

Jeff was born on March 9, 1945, in Chicago, IL, while his family lived in nearby Oak Park. He was the second child of Roderick DuRocher, Sr., and Virginia (Cooley) DuRocher, little brother to Roderick DuRocher, Jr. Soon afterward, the family moved to the Cleveland area near Parma, OH, where Jeff was a bright student who excelled in school, especially math & science and developed a lifelong interest in history as he built model airplanes and military reenactments. With his dad and brother, he also found a lifelong love of (and frustration with) the Cleveland Browns. After graduating as valedictorian from Valley Forge High School in 1963, he received a scholarship from Cleveland great Otto Graham to attend Northwestern University to study engineering.

At a fraternity/sorority Christmas party for an orphanage, Jeff ran over to assist Marie Wasileski carry presents. He must have been charming because on their first date, he lost a contact lens in his mashed potatoes, and she still married him on August 24, 1968. Together, they moved near New York City for Jeff to attend Columbia Law School while Marie earned her teaching certification and began teaching high school. Jeff again distinguished himself academically and was honored as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. In 1971, he accepted a position at Nossaman Law and somehow bribed Marie to move to Los Angeles, CA. Within a few years, he made partner at that firm, soon moving with friends and partners to establish Riordan & McKinzie. That firm continued to grow and merge, but overall Jeff practiced tax law at the highest level for over 45 years.

Meanwhile Marie and Jeff enjoyed several trips to Europe and adventures camping in Yosemite, but eventually they wanted more, and in 1976, they welcomed their first daughter Christine and bought their first house in Palos Verdes, CA. The young family soon grew with Mark born in 1980 and Lauren in 1984. Sadly, the couple also welcomed and lost young David in 1978-1979.

But the family continued to travel around the world. Jeff and Marie occasionally snuck off on trips to China and the Caribbean, but Jeff loved to travel with the entire family, often saying that he saw more when he traveled with kids because they noticed things that he didn’t. As the kids grew up, they kept traveling, and Jeff had a blast trying to keep up with them in Italy, Peru, Yemen, and more.

Jeff always remembered the importance of education for him. He encouraged a love of learning and hard work in his children, but he also mentored many in his career and through his charitable contributions of time, financial resources, and counsel. He was an active hiking leader and assistant scout master for Boy Scouts Troop 276, the “Mountain Men.” He served on the board of the Peninsula Education Foundation and as board chairman for the San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA, where he was honored for his service with their Golden Book Award in 2005.

Jeff loved travel, hiking, skiing, the outdoors, the beach, national parks, historic battlefields, backgammon, poker, chili cheese fritos, a cold beer in a frosted mug, spicy food, reading nonfiction, Western movies, history documentaries, maps, political "discussion," the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland Browns, and most of all his family. He will truly be missed by all.

Along with his wife Marie, Jeff leaves behind his three children Christine (Justin), Mark, and Lauren (David) and his cherished granddaughter Rosie. He has been laid to rest near his son David and his father Roderick at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes. His mother Virginia and brother Roderick also predeceased him and are buried in the Cleveland area.

Family and friends are invited to remember Jeff at a memorial on January 15, 2024, at 11:30am, at the Palos Verdes Beach & Athletic Club, 389 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the “San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA” either online at www.ymcaLA.org/sppgive (with a note “In memory of Jeff DuRocher”) or by check mailed to San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA, 301 S. Bandini Street, San Pedro, CA 90732, ATTN In Memory of Jeff DuRocher. 

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/jeffrey-durocher/obituary/

Copy