Jed Tuft
From BayTeam
About member Jed Tuft, (January 18, 1953- March 29, 2008):
Jed's wife, Connie, had been the most active one in dog agility, but Jed had recently gotten his own agility dog and was in training to be another agility star.
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[edit] From Karey K
I agree with Katrina re how kind Jed was and generous with his time (welding all our teeters every year!), and looking so happy to finally have his own dog to run in agility.
[edit] From Ellen F
I just met Jed for the first time in the last year. He was working at a ring where I was working, and was cheerful and eager to learn. As usual, I had trouble remember the person's name (dogs are much easier) and had to ask him about four times, and he remained in good humor and gracefully kept repeating it every time I asked.
[edit] From Diane S
I would like to share a recent run in with Jed. Not only did we at one time train together, his dog Leda and my big Zuni had a kind of brisk relationship... But that did not affect Jed's ( or Connie's) kindness towards me.
Jed was (is) a quiet, unassuming kind of guy. He is always there when you need him, and only says nice things accompanied by that beautiful smile - unlike some people (...who me??)
Anyway... two weeks ago at the bay team CPE trail in Sunnyvale, I scored an old Bay Team teeter that needed some welding on the base. I picked it up at Arlene's late Sunday afternoon and drove north to Santa Rosa with the plank hanging out of the back of my truck. Connie had assured me that Jed would fix it for me so, on a whim, I stopped at their place on the way home that same day.
When I got there, Connie wasn't home yet from the trial and Jed was all suited up and weed whacking, adorned in ear muffs, goggles, mask & weed whacker. I pulled up behind him and honked the horn. (EVIL...)
Startled, he jumped about 5 feet in the air, turned around to find me... THE POODLE LADY! "Hi Jed, sorry to scare you." Undressing his head gear he said, No problem.... now what the heck do YOU want? (joke)
I said "Is Connie home yet?" "No" he said. "Good", says I. "Connie said you wouldn't mind fixing this teeter base for me someday. What do you think"? says I. He replies with a smile on his face "If you can wait 10 minutes, I'll do it right now, I think I've fixed this one before". (He did, years ago ... on the other side of the frame base.) 8 minutes later out he comes with the newly welded teeter base freshly painted.
I thanked him & offered to pay him. He refused. I offered him a t-shirt from the new hotdiggity dog art golden retriever design and he just wanted a discount on one when they came out. We shook hands and off I went.
I will treasure that weld and I bet it holds up for a LONG time!!!~ Not only did he make & fix agility equipment, he was a fine craftsman in the art of a blacksmith or a "smithy" engaged in the art of iron work and made beautiful gates, railings & the like.
So there you have it. That is my story about the generosity and kindness of Jed Tuft. His passing from this world to the better one has left many broken hearts. Diane Szczepanski 4/6/08
[edit] From Kelley M
I'm not a Bay Team member, but have participated in your trials and would like to put in my 2 cents re:Jed. Jed was 55 years young. In addition to his passion for agility, he was into fly fishing, water skiing, and camping.
I met Jed when I began training with Connie in March '05. At first he'd just come out and visit while our class was going on, but before long he joined our class with Leda. Connie made a point to frequently remind us that Jed had stolen her dog! Jed would just grin and run "his" dog. We called him the teacher's pet!
The thing I'll remember most about Jed is his quiet sense of humor. Most people think he was shy, but I think he just stayed quiet until he had a smart-alec comment to make. We used to tease him when he'd stroll out 5 minutes late for class, asking if he'd gotten stuck in traffic between the front door and the agility field in his front yard. He was always quick to reply, "we had to stop for gas" or "we missed our exit".
Jed was a great friend. We were learning agility together and always made it a point to share what we'd learned at seminars. He made special 3 & 4 pole weave bases & loaned me whichever he wasn't using so we could work on those darn entries! Every time I tried to return the set I was borrowing, he'd insist that I take home the other, because, as he put it, he didn't need both at the same time.
At trials, he was always there to help set up my stuff when I showed up late & had to run off to walk the course. And I can't tell you how many times I've looked a pictures taken by Reg at Dog Gone Digital, and there was Jed in the background, watching us run. Despite all those dogs he & Connie had to juggle at trials, he always seemed to find time for me & my dog, too.
I think my dog, Jordy, loved Jed almost as much as Leda did. He thought Uncle Jed was the greatest thing since liver treats & baby carrots. We always knew when Jed was on his way out to class because Jordy and Jake (who is Leda's full brother) would suddenly turn toward Connie's house & start whining, wiggling & thumping their tails so hard that they'd knock each other off the table they share at class. I think the boys will miss Jed even more than we will.
Those of you who knew Jed know what a wonderful guy he was. To those of you who didn't, you missed the opportunity to know one of this world's truely kind, generous, and special people. I will forever value the too brief friendship I shared with this great man.
Kelley McNair (with Jordy, the big, goofy Golden)
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