Jeff has been a children’s minister, non-profit specialist, and manager of a home security and personal defense company. Today, he teaches English to an energetic group of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students at a multi-cultural private school near Nashville. He also serves as a volunteer chaplain with the Murfreesboro, TN Police Dept.
Originally from Syracuse, New York, with many years spent in the Rochester area, Jeff now lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with his wife, Dee, (married 45 years) and Basset Hounds, Rosie and Buster.
Returning to college in 2002, he received his BS degree in Business and Public Relations from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2007 and he completed the necessary course work for a MS degree in Communication in 2009.
Jeff is an avid genealogist with more than fifty years of diligent research experience, leading to two self-published books on his family history. In addition, he has completed a historical novel on a branch of his family that lived in Geneva, NY in the mid 1800s.
Another interest is a fast growing library of antique classic books by 19th and 20th century authors including Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jules Verne, Horatio Alger, Jr., Thomas Hardy, James Fenimore Cooper, George MacDonald, Sinclair Lewis, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and many others. However, he acquires books much faster than he can read them!
As a chess coach, he has ten years of experience, and once coached a Jr/Sr high school chess team to several championships in a highly competitive interscholastic league. Today, he coaches elementary age players and has had several championship caliber players at the school where he teaches.
Contact Jeff:
By email: ThePlainEnglish@gmail.com
I read your post this morning about Thomas Burnick. He was my 4th Great Grandfather through John Burnick and Margaret O’Donnell, then John J Burnick and Sophie/a Meyer, then my great grandparents Stanley Burnick and Eleanora Remillard and then Charles McBeth and Beverley Burnick to my mother Kathleen McBeth-Lewis. Thank you for this narrative as I am researching my lineage on my own since most of my immediate family has no interest. I recently found tons of documents on a free trial of Fold3 and I was printing it all.. and reading this outline helped bring a clearer picture to me. Thank You.
Hello Sir,
My uncle was the Jr. Pilot onboard the China Clipper on that fateful night in Jan 8th, 1945. My aunt never got over it and she finally passed in 2001. That’s a long time to live with a broken heart.
Thank you for your article. I love it.
My associate and I know where the China Clipper is buried in Trinidad. After the crash the Army bulldozed the clipper in a hole and covered it over, sealing it in time. Specialist tell me the plane will be in unbelievable shape. And we are getting a team to together to go to Trinidad and recover this aircraft. What fun,,yes?
Thank you for writing Timothy and I am interested in your news of possibly recovering the wreck of the China Clipper. Please contact me through this site when you have further information.
Thanks,
Jeff Michaels