Jesse Loffer

Jesse grew up in Tiller, Oregon on his father’s prune orchard & goat farm. As a young man, he and his older brother Ron weren’t aware of the Depression and spent their days fishing, riding horses, purloining watermelons and camping out wherever dusk found them. He was called a prune-picking goat-herder by his close friends.

At age 13, his mother died and he lived with a foster family in Myrtle Creek.

Conquering Polio, he went on to win a baseball scholarship to Oregon State. After his BS degree, (he also got an MS at U of O), Jesse joined the Navy in 1942 and was stationed in San Diego where he instructed recruits.

In 1945 he became a teacher/coach at Grants Pass High School and two years later was appointed Athletic Director. His athletic programs won numerous state playoffs and championships, including the 1948 State Football Championship team who lost two members in the returning bus accident, despite his rescue attempts.

Jesse was a two-time winner of Northwest Regional Athletic Director of the Year. He retired in 1980 and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and golf.

Jesse belonged to several service clubs and is remembered by his friends, colleagues, city fathers and students as a man who “Helped make this town what it is”, “One of the classiest people in town”, “Was a major inspiration in my life”, “A prince of a man”. His Lions Club buddies say he was a combination of Gary Cooper, Gregory Peck & Knute Rockne – only shorter.

He is preceded by his wife Lettie. His survivors include daughter Linda Gomez Brown of Medford, daughter Cheryl Jones of Eugene and son Larry Loffer of Grants Pass, as well as seven grandchildren.

We want to thank George Boisacq and his staff at Countryside Village for their excellent care and attention during Jesse’s latter years.

A memorial service will be held at Hull & Hull on Wednesday, February 8, 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests and remembrances be made to the Jesse Loffer Memorial Athletic Scholarship: GPHS Foundation, PO Box 908, Grants Pass, OR 97528