BANGOR and AVON, N.Y. – Jeff Cole, 30, passed away on Oct. 18, 2004, peacefully at his home in Bangor. He was born on Aug. 23, 1974, in Rochester, N.Y., the son of Tom and Liz Cole. Jeff was a 1992 graduate of Avon High School in upstate New York. He received his bachelor’s degree in education and history from St. John Fisher College in 1996. At Fisher he was a three year football letter winner and special teams standout. In the fall of 1996, he served as an Assistant Coach for the Cardinals. In the spring of 1997, he began his career with the University of Maine Football Program. In 1998, he served as an Assistant Director of Admissions for UMaine, working as the athletic department liaison. After meeting his wife Andrea, in the spring of 1999, they moved to Southern Maine where he taught US history and psychology at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish. Jeff was a Varsity Football Coach at Bonny Eagle, serving as offensive coordinator and line coach. Jeff returned to the University of Maine in the spring of 2000, as the tight ends and wide receivers coach where he helped lead the offense to a 2001 Atlantic 10 Championship. In 2002, he took over the duties of running backs coach and special teams coordinator and the team went on to win their second consecutive A-10 Championship. At the time of his death, Jeff was a proud member of the Black Bears Football Program. In his final game with the Black Bears, a 38-0 victory over Northern Colorado, Coach Cole called the offense for the final drive of the game. He was awarded the game ball at midfield at the conclusion of the game for his many contributions on and off the field. Jeff was an exceptional husband, friend, mentor and coach. He has touched many peoples’ lives during his lifetime. He will be greatly missed. Jeff is survived by his loving wife Andrea; his parents, Tom and Liz Cole of Avon, N.Y.; a sister, Jennifer Marks, her husband, Tom and their children, Katie and Matthew of Milford, Ohio; a brother, Brian and fianc?e, Sarah, of Avon, N.Y.; a special cousin, Scott Carrick and his wife, Heather, of Avon, N.Y. and many other cousins, aunts, uncles, and in-laws. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 19, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the United Methodist Church, 36 Oak St., Orono with the Rev. Terence McKinley, officiating. A memorial gathering will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Wells Conference Center on the UMaine campus. Interment will be held in Avon, N.Y. Those who wish to remember Jeffrey in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Jeff Cole Fund, care of Caren Haskell Ford, University of Maine Football Office, 5747 Memorial Gym, Orono, ME 04469-5747. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor.
JEFFREY A. COLE
