Jeff Mintle Legacy
On Behalf of Friends of The Mintle Family:
It’s with deep, unimaginable sorrow that we share the news of Jeff Mintle’s passing. He left this world for the next one on November 28, 2023 after a 13-month battle with brain cancer. Jeff was a bright light, an incredible human, and a sweet soul. It was only natural that he leave this planet on a beautifully clear night under the light of a full moon.
Jeff was diagnosed with brain cancer last fall and was in surgery to remove the tumor within days of his original diagnosis. During treatment which included multiple rounds of chemo and radiation, Jeff remained positive, open-hearted, and determined to fight. He enjoyed Thanksgiving and Christmas with his family, spent time snowboarding with his son Liam, attended Seahawks games with his friends, and traveled as often as possible. He navigated a return to work at Zumiez where he led the Private Label Division and several months later celebrated his 23rd anniversary with the company. After several clean scans post-treatment, life returned to a new normal and it seemed as if the cancer journey was complete. Unfortunately, in early October the aggressive cancer returned and Jeff was given just a few weeks to live. In the weeks before his passing, Jeff spent time visiting with friends and family, sharing stories and memories with his children, and savoring every moment.
Below are some words from Jeff and his family:
There will be lots to say and share in the days and weeks to come, but for right now, we want to give you this list of simple, joyful things that colored Jeff’s world. This list comes directly from a book of writings he worked on over the last year, so that all of us would have his story and his insight.
It’s our hope that these images and ideas will support you as we all try, together, to find a way to gently move forward.
Ocean waves
Crickets at night
Acoustic guitar
Soft Rain
Thunderstorms
Quiet mornings and birds chirping
The sounds of a walkabout in the city
My family sleeping quietly
The fun of new adventures and new plans
Riding a skateboard
Going to Seahawks games
Tailgating
A blank canvas
Jeff lived a full and beautiful life. He was a gifted artist who loved to think outside the box. He will be deeply missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.
We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who has walked alongside our family during this journey.
xoxoxo Sydney, Liam, and London
How to Get Involved
1. Look into the night sky and check out Jeff’s star in the Cassiopeia constellation. Right ascension 1h 6m 37.6s / Declination 68° 32’ 54.97” / Magnitude 9.3420000. (Pictured below, center. Blue star)
2. Set time aside to pray, meditate, or send healing vibes to the Mintle Family to help them cope with this unimaginable loss.
3. Send your photos, videos, memories, and stories of Jeff via email to mintlememories@gmail.com.
Jeff was committed to finding creative ways to approach sustainability in his life and work. As a result, he chose an end-of-life option that strengthens the environment, rather than depleting it. In his last act on earth, Jeff will save one metric ton of carbon from entering the environment by using Recompose.
The family is asking for privacy at this time and plans to host a small, private ceremony to honor Jeff’s life in the week’s ahead. They ask that each of you celebrate him in your own way by being kind, gentle, and creative in all of your endeavors.
Gifts, cards, flowers, and momentos can be sent to the family’s mail box located at Queen Anne Dispatch.
Mailing address:
Attn: Mintle Family
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N. Box #806
Seattle, WA 98109
Thank you for your kindness during this difficult time for the Mintle family and their entire network of extended friends, colleagues, and community at large.
Credits: Thank you to Laura Cassidy for helping us craft these beautiful words. We also want to thank Tom Fernandez for capturing such beautiful images of Jeff’s star. And last, but not least, thank you to the entire team of friends and caregivers who helped care for Jeff in the final weeks of his life. You made his transition peaceful and filled our broken hearts with love.
