Jeffrey Richard Soth

Jeffrey Richard Soth, a beloved husband, brother, uncle, friend, and tireless advocate for labor passed away on June 13, 2025, in Chestertown, Maryland. He was 58.

Born at St. Luke's Hospital in Bellingham, Washington to Richard and Margaret Soth, Jeff was the beloved baby brother of the family, joining older brothers, Jon and Bill. The family moved to Snohomish, Washington where Jeff's parents were both educators; each served as President of the Snohomish Education Association and his father coached hundreds of young athletes on various sports teams. As pillars of the community, Jeff's parents instilled in the brothers a strong moral compass and care for others. They raised honest, good, and decent men.

Jeff met his future wife at Snohomish Junior High. Jeff maintained for 46 years she cheated off his paper during a math test (she might have). Jeff was a top student with a bright intellect and easy manner. At Snohomish High School, Jeff was well known for his strength and grit on the football field as an All-Wesco conference tackle for the winning Snohomish Panthers football team. He was a loyal friend and maintained lifelong friendships and a deep connection to Snohomish throughout his life.

Jeff earned his undergraduate and master's degrees, with a focus on Economics and Political Science, at Western Washington University, the family alma mater. After graduation he spent a year in Olympia at the Washington State Senate before returning to Snohomish where he proudly served as Mayor of the community where he had grown up.

Jeff led a life of service. Most notably his professional life was dedicated to the labor movement and the International Union of Operating Engineers. In his home state of Washington, Jeff served as the Director of Government Affairs for IUOE Local 302, of which he had been a longtime member. Jeff later moved to Washington, D.C. to accept a job at the union's international headquarters as the Assistant Director of the Political and Legislative Affairs Department, which he later led as Director. Over the course of his career, Jeff became a policy expert on energy issues, labor rights, and workforce development, often testifying before Congress and speaking at various conferences.

Jeff was a tireless advocate for the Operating Engineers-fighting every day on Capitol Hill to protect and expand the rights, livelihoods, and futures of the members and their families. Among his most significant accomplishments were his role in getting major job-creating legislation passed through Congress, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS Act. He was also extremely proud of getting strong labor policies included within the tax code pertaining to infrastructure investments.

Jeff married the love of his life in August 2022, after 'chasing her around the world', as he would say, while she pursued a career teaching in international schools in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. They lived and worked in Washington D.C. with an eye on retirement in Chestertown on the Eastern Shore where they bought their dream home, spending as much time there as possible. Jeff was happiest in the country hunting waterfowl and deer, and just enjoying the solitude and peacefulness of the outdoors.

Jeff is predeceased by his parents, Richard and Margaret Soth and sister-in-law Kari Huber Soth. He is survived by his wife, Danette Sack; brothers Jonathan and William Soth; nieces Whitney Erickson (husband Will; sons Miles, Harvey, Wade), Madison Merriman (husband Andrew; daughter Anderson), Elizabeth; and nephew Tyler Soth.

Jeff was a man with great integrity, commitment to his work, loyalty to his friends, and an overall decent human being who made the world a better place. He will be profoundly missed, yet his legacy will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and job-creating legislation.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Jeffrey's family encourages you to consider a donation to the Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO Foundation for Working Families: www.wslc.org/ffwf