Jeffrey M. Root

Jeffrey M Root passed away peacefully on September 22, 2024.

Jeff lived an adventurous and full life. Raised in his early days in Florida, Georgia, and Connecticut, Jeff spent some of his most formative years living in Bombay, India. After graduating from High School in Tokyo, Japan, Jeff spent short periods in Pullman and Seattle before entering the Navy. Following his service aboard the SSN Will Rogers Nuclear Submarine, Jeff began a career as a commercial fisherman based in Provincetown, MA. It was here that he met his wife Gail and together they moved back to the West Coast, first to Berkeley, CA and finally to Tacoma, WA.

Following the birth of his only son Larken, Jeff went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Puget Sound and then a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Washington. Jeff worked as a lab chemist for several years before beginning his career as a teacher, first at Tacoma Community College and then at his alma mater UPS. He taught college chemistry for over 20 years.

One of the crowning achievements of Jeff’s life was the construction of a steel 49 foot boat which he completed in his spare time over the course of nearly three decades. He subsequently led his family on the adventure of a lifetime, a year-long journey through the waterways of Europe. Jeff’s lifelong love of chemistry led him in his later years to strive to improve the world through decarbonizing our energy economy. He created a company and is the holder of several U.S. patents for his inventions.

Jeff is survived by his sisters Jeri Dell Meyer and Sharon Billingsley, his long-time partner Gail Brandt, his son Larken and daughter-in-law Alyssa, his grandson Enzo, and his nephew Ethan Meyer and niece Jennifer Weir.

He will remain forever in our hearts.

A remembrance service will be held for Jeff starting at 2PM on October 5th , 2024 at 2120 N 26th Street, Tacoma, WA 98403.

Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA.