Jeffrey Allen McCuen, 61 years old, of Bloomington, IL passed away September 18, 2022, after a 10-month journey following a most severe stroke. He was born in McLean County, IL on August 14, 1961, to Janet and Bob McCuen. He was a fierce and talented collegiate wrestler in the 119 lbs. weight class at Illinois State, an All American, and competed all the way to the Olympic trials. He took that hard-working athletic discipline onto a successful career.

Jeff moved to Atlanta in 1986 to take a sales support position at NCS but quickly worked his way to a highly successful sales rep. The NCS’ers were a tight bunch. When they weren’t traveling onsite with clients, they played softball, they bowled, played golf, and shared close family bonds. After being acquired by SunGard, “Golden Boy,” made those deals look easy, eloquent with words, good with numbers and cool, collected in those big presentations. He knew just how to read a room, good at thinking on his feet and could have a conversation with just about anyone. Jeff was not only good at what he did, but genuinely enjoyed it. When speaking with him, he made you feel like you were the most important person.

After 30 years at SunGard, Jeff’s decision to “take his talents” to Innovest Trust Systems was received with a standing ovation. The trust industry is a small/specialized niche, so he was quite the asset. Jeff built long-standing relationships and was trusted, respected by his colleagues as well as his competitors. There are few states Jeff had not visited but was and continued to be a “white knuckle” flyer—which is why he supervised his flights from the window seat. Ones that knew him best were surprised Jeff skydived and jumped (but said he was pushed) out of a perfectly good airplane. Mac was an old-fashioned, mid-western guy that kept life light, fun, and comfortable in his skin. All this success is shadowed by what we all knew was most important to him - his family.

More than anything else, Jeff loved being Katie’s daddy. From the moment she squeezed his pinky after her first round of immunizations, there was a forever bond. He remastered the stepdad role to Drew, that followed an adult friendship, and a tennis partnership. It was beautiful to watch. The joy he radiated when playing with his grandchildren Griffin, Graham, Eleanor, and Charlotte was palpable.

His circle of lifelong friends was more than others amass in a lifetime, carrying bonds going back to grade school. But once he got the tennis bug, that circle of lifelong friends not only grew but deepened. A brotherhood was formed among the ‘framily’ boys with Jimmy, Roy, Robert, and Tom. They played like children together, and he was a big brother to the framily girls: Susi, Mel, Jen, and Susan. They could easily get tickled and laugh hysterically, and then he could turn around to give the best advice on life, work, family. He was the absolute best tennis captain. He balanced it all so gracefully; after completing a high-level presentation, he would manage the team, organizing lineups and keeping all the personalities feeling appreciated. He made everything fun - he was our Jefe.

Bob was his role model by keeping love at the core. He resonated with his dad’s advice on being a father, “just love them”. Bob and Janet were active parents, cheering Jeff on in the wrestling tournaments, his football games, and when they were in town, the tennis matches. Jeff loved an audience and loved the cheers when he made the winning shot, and in turn, was our cheerleader, staying until the very last match with his loving heckling. We can all forever recite a Jeff joke or his one-liners, lighting up a room. He had fond memories of singing with his brother Greg at Laura’s wedding, and when he was on the phone not saying a word, he was “talking” with his sister. Only Laura had that effect on him, and he loved her passion, intensity, intelligence -reminding him of his mom.

When Jeff and Geannette met, they were instantly smitten. Quickly, he shared with her his passion for karaoke and was never shy to get up and sing on stage. His go-to’s were Brandy, Sweet Caroline, the Bitch is Back, Smoke from a Distant Fire, and he nailed them! Jeff embodied fun. After Katie and Alyssa were off to college, Jeff and Geannette married on Angel Beach in Hawaii in 2010.

This world truly is a better place having that big, bright, generous personality as part of it.

Our hearts are forever singed from that bright soul.

Oh, what a pleasure to be part of his story.

Jeff loved us all deeply. He loved life!

He is so missed. And, he was so loved.

Soar now, sweet Jeff.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Geannette Fuentes, his daughter, Katherine McCuen, his father, Robert McCuen, his sister, Laura, and brother-in-law, Dave Moberly, his niece and nephews Brandy, Jake and Austin Moberly, his stepson, Drew, and his wife, Lindsey Sweeney, his grandsons, Griffin and Graham Sweeney, his stepdaughter, Alyssa, and her husband, Anthony Antonicello, and his granddaughters Eleanor and Charlotte Antonicello and by many amazing friends. 

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