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Jeffrey Wayne Daugherty

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Fairmont East High School Miami University Purdue University

FUNERAL HOME

Tobias Funeral Home

5471 Far Hills Avenue

Washington Township, Ohio

Jeffrey Daugherty Obituary

News Death Notice

DAUGHERTY, Jeffrey Wayne The best brother, uncle, great- uncle ever, passed away Wednesday July 2, 2008. Jeff , a graduate of Fairmont East High School , received a BS in Physics in 1970 from Miami University and completed his graduate studies at Purdue University where he earned a Master of Science in 1972 and a PhD in physics in 1978. Jeff joined AT&T Bell Laboratories (later Lucent Technologies) immediately after receiving his doctorate. At Bell Labs and Lucent he worked on various projects focused on communications research and speech synthesis, receiving multiple patents for his pioneering work. Jeff retired from Lucent Technologies in 2001. He was preceded in death by his parents, G. Robert (Bob) and Anna A. Daugherty. Survived by his loving step mother, Virginia Taylor Daugherty of Kettering OH, brother Gerry (Sharon) Daugherty of Cincinnati OH, sisters, Nancie Reherman (Jim) and Susan Ringer (Marco) both of Atlanta GA., step-brother Gregg (Cindy) Taylor of Centerville OH, nephews and nieces Julie Wiesler, Tamara Daugherty, Charles Daugherty, Kathleen Guilbert and Sara Bremer, Jason Taylor and Adam Taylor. Graveside service 10 am Thursday, July 10, 2008 at the Miami Valley Memory Gardens , 1639 E Lytle 5 Points Rd , Centerville, OH 45458. Pastor Larry Tyner officiating. Memorial Contributions in his memory may be made to the Boston University Eye Associates 720 Harrison Avenue Boston , MA 02118. TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME_FAR HILLS CHAPEL in care of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to tobiasfuneralhome.com.

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Published by Dayton Daily News on Jul. 6, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Jeffrey Daugherty

14 Entries

Steven Moss

November 28, 2008

I am shocked and saddened at Jeff's passing. I learned of it while reading the latest issue of the Purdue alumni magazine.

Jeff and I entered grad school in physics at Purdue in 1970. I knew him for the two years that I was there. He was a wonderful friend. He was extremely bright and helped me a lot. I remember that he loved to play chess and bridge.

I got his email address a few years ago and made contact with him again after many years with no contact. He was the same old Jeff. I lost contact when he retired. I'll miss Jeff a lot, and we'll all be the poorer for not having him with us.

Marco Ringer

July 31, 2008

I met Jeff back in the early 1990's when I married his baby sister Susan, Jeff made me feel good about myself, We had many adventures together Florida Keys, played Darts at a club & won,Cozumel MX. Jeff was a great sport I auctioned him off to 7 Lady's at the swim up bar. Tulum MX. sitting in the middle of the Jungle drinking tecquila looking at a huge hole in the earth full of clear natural water, At home it was always my pleasure to cook for him because he enjoyed it so much, My mother loved jeff so very much she wanted Jeff to live with her so she could take care of him and have those wonderfull conversations. I will Always remember my Jeff Best Brother In-Law a man could have.

Larry Tomko

July 13, 2008

Ten of Jeff's friends got together for a memorial lunch on May 11 at Houlihan's in Wheaton. Jeff was part of this group that got together every few months, and we will all miss him.

I was probably the one who kept most in contact with Jeff the last few years. We sent email almost every day, and debated investments, medications - almost any topic. Just two weeks before his death I took him to his doctor, who congratulated Jeff on his excellent health. All the tests were "great".

I will miss him.

Bryan Kadel

July 10, 2008

Jeff was a good friend. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jeff for the past 15 years. We both worked in the speech recognition organization at AT&T and over time became good friends. I spoke with Jeff on 6/24/08 and he seemed to be doing great. We talked about his work, my work, old projects we worked on together, the economy, my children, he shared some stock ideas with me, and we made plans to get together for lunch in mid-July. I can’t believe he is gone.

Jeff was kind and thoughtful and possessed one of the sharpest minds I’ve ever seen. I know he deeply loved his family because he often spoke of spending time with them vacationing or just visiting. Jeff was the type of person that genuinely cared about people and took an interest in them. Whenever we spoke Jeff always asked about my wife and family and always remembered details I had shared previously about their lives and challenges. Jeff had purchased a home in Naperville several years back, but had dreamed of one day building a home on his lot in Florida.

I have many wonderful memories of working with Jeff and others of just talking with him. Both Jeff & I shared a passion for computer hardware, software, and optimizing them all to work well together. But Jeff always took it one step further than anyone else. I recall working on some low level code and trying to understand what was going wrong. I spoke to Jeff about it and mentioned that the PPC disassembler I was using produced output that was sometimes difficult to read. Jeff’s response… “well why don’t you use my disassembler, I didn’t like the standard dissembler so I wrote my own”. So I did, and it was by far the best disassembler I’ve ever used. For those non-computer types reading this and wondering what this means just understand this: nobody writes their own dissembler, and if they do its no good. Jeff developed his own dissembler and many other tools to study computer performance and his tools beat the tools produced by large companies who specialize in such things.

I have a lot of stories but they can all pretty much be summed up by saying Jeff was kind, thoughtful, brilliant, and above all a good friend who can never be replaced.

Ann Syrdal

July 8, 2008

I was shocked and very sad to hear about Jeff's unexpected death. I worked with him on speech synthesis at Bell Labs in Naperville, Illinois from 1986 to 1992. Our group had a great work environment and a lot of fun working during that time. I vividly remember Jeff writing code with intense concentration, his eyes behind thick glasses less than a foot from the huge reverse video type on his computer screen. He enjoyed his work, and he was a joy to work with. Despite the seriousness with which he took his work, he had a subtle playful side too!
I last saw Jeff in 2003 when we invited him to New Jersey, hoping to hire him to work in AT&T Labs Research on speech synthesis, but unfortunately the funding didn't come through for the position. We continued exchanging email from time to time, chatting about the state of corporate research at Lucent and AT&T, dwindling employee/retiree pensions and benefits, and sharing news about former colleagues, vacations, the stock market and investments. Actually, when it came to the market and investments, Jeff talked and I just listened carefully and asked questions!
Jeff was a very talented and modest man, an excellent colleague and good friend. The world is a smaller place without him.

Steve Mettler

July 8, 2008

Jeff was a true friend. I could always count on him. We started as grad students together at Purdue and then went to Bell Labs about the same time. He even let me meet his sister. When he came to visit her in Atlanta we would get together. He was certainly one of the smartest people I ever met along with being one of the nicest. And his stock market research even made me money, most of the time. He knew my wife and all my children and they all loved him too. I talked to him less than a week before this happened and I was totally shocked and dismayed about losing him. He will always be in our hearts and in our prayers. Thank you for contacting me and letting me know.

Steve mettler

Scott Lowry

July 8, 2008

I met Jeff when I was a sophomore and he was a senior at Fairmont East. I thought I knew how to play chess, and one of the people that I played against introduced me to Jeff, who was president of the chess club. I quickly learned that I in fact did not know how to play chess, but Jeff most certainly did. It did not take long to realize that his genius extended into many other activities and fields, including logic games, industrial arts, and various sciences. Jeff left high school before I got to know him well, although I did get to know his sister Nancie. Now he has left this life before I got to make up for not knowing him better in high school. I regret missing both opportunities. Nancie and everyone else in Jeff's family, I know that he still lives within and through each of you.

Kathy Gruenwald

July 8, 2008

I have known Jeff for over 30 years dating back to Purdue days. He was in the Physics graduate program with my husband. I was blessed to have met Jeff's mom, Ana. She knitted a beautiful baby blanket when our daughter, Sarah, was born and she shared her delicious lasagna recipe. That recipe still ranks as one of the MOST requested meals during family gatherings. I got to know Bob and Virginia especially through Jeff's recap of the fun times they shared on Cumberland Lake. I was always amazed that Jeff water skied! Jeff kept me informed about the many cruises/trips that Bob and Virginia took....talk about a "zest" for life!
Jeff has been an inspiration. He always seemed to appreciate what he had and what he could do. He never complained or dwelled on his handicaps.
I always enjoyed Jeff's company whether we were going to a doctor's appointment or shopping for a new wardrobe, suit, or furnishings. He'd always chuckle and say, " You like spending my money." Jeff was not easily swayed. He had his own style and opinion, which made these shopping sprees more challenging and exciting. For instance, my decorating style is more transitional where Jeff preferred more of a contemporary look. I was so impressed with his choices of material for his furniture and window treatments! When the NASA pictures materialized out of an old box I "jokingly" put my foot down to ever hanging them anywhere except his office. He'd just laugh. Lo and behold Bob and Virginia came in for a visit and decided to frame the pictures as a gift for Jeff. On my next visit I had to admit those framed pictures did look good hanging on a living room wall! Jeffrey just beamed and chuckled.
Knowing that I wanted to study nursing Jeff asked me to give him a few of his subcutaneous shots since the home nurse was unavailable for a few days. It wasn't till I finished the last shot that he chuckled and said, " That was good. It didn't hurt at all." What a trooper for being a brave human guinea pig.........and what a "gem" for waiting to critique till the end!
I have many fond memories of Jeffrey. He was a special, true friend. I will miss him very much.

Kathy Gruenwald

Suzanne Andrews

July 8, 2008

I was truly saddened to hear of Jeff's passing. I knew him as Nancie's big brother when we were just children in Kettering. I know that he was loved by his family and will be missed beyond reason. My thoughts and prayers are with the Daugherty family.

Anand Setlur

July 8, 2008

Jeff was a great colleague to interact with -- very unassuming and very helpful and wrote some very efficient assembly code. I kept in touch with him past his retirement not often enough though. News of his demise came as a complete shock to me and he will be sorely missed. I had been meaning to get in touch with him soon. Just reminds you how fleeting life's moments are and we have to make the most of them. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family as they come to terms with his sudden demise.

Jenny Loucks

July 6, 2008

While I only met Jeff once while he was visiting Nancie and Jim, I immediately knew why they loved him as one of the best brothers ever. I know the family will miss him very much and hope they keep in their memories all the great times they shared with him. I know those times were special since they passed along the fun stories to me with every visit they shared with Jeff. How lucky they are to have had such great times together.

Karen and Richard Noel

July 6, 2008

Our prayers and sympathy goes to the Daugherty family. Jeff was a joy to be around. We will miss him greatly.

Tom Gruenwald

July 6, 2008

Jeff was a close friend for over 38 years. He was a brilliant mind and a warm,genuine friend. Jeff researched everything thing under the sun. Lately he became an expert in blood chemistry to the point where his doctors were asking him questions and getting him to research things for them.
While at Lucent Jeff was the one and only person responsible for developing speech recognition technology into a useable system. When he started the speech recognition equipment took up a good sized room. When he finished several years later it could fit in your hand. Along the way Jeff became the expert at Bell Labs in how to use exotic micro-proceessors. He often wrote software for these micros on his own time that was used across the entire company. So chances are that whenever you encounter a commercial speech recognition system,some of Jeffery's software is interpreting what you are saying.

My funniest experience with Jeffery was in the mid 80's. Jeff became convinced that he could drive a motor scooter. Why he thought a motor scooter would be easier than a car(which he acknowledged he couldn't drive) I will never know. Nevertheless it took weeks of convincing before Jeff gave up the idea of buying a motor scooter and taking the driving test.

I will dearly miss the daily phone calls from Jeff to dissect the latest Cubs game or stock market movement. He was a true friend whom I will never forget and miss every day.

Julianna Wallingford

July 6, 2008

Jeff was always another "big brother," whose ccomplishments I never knew until now. For me, his greatest accomplishment was being a wonderful, warm person. He will be sorely missed.

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