M. Jeffrey Koenreich

SALEM — M. Jeffrey Koenreich, 54, passed away Thursday, May 1 at his home in Miami, Fla.

He was born Feb. 1, 1954, the son of Pearl Koenreich and the late Gilson Koenreich.

Jeff graduated from Salem High School in 1972, and attended Ohio State University, graduating in 1976. While in Columbus, Jeff worked at the State House as a page for several state representatives.

Jeff was a 35 year veteran of the American Red Cross starting in 1972 in Salem. In 1978, he continued his work at the Red Cross in Washington, D.C. In 1983 while he was in Washington he received the Red Cross Distinguished National Tiffany Award for Employee Excellence. During his time in Washington, he was very active with the Lincoln Theatre renovation and the surrounding Cardosa-Shaw Neighborhood Association. He was a ghost writer for the Washington Post and he was involved with a clinic treating AIDS patients. Before he left Washington, he worked with the organ donation-transplant division of the Red Cross.

From Washington, Jeff was transferred to Savannah, ga., with the Red Cross and eventually to Miami, Fla. During his stay in Miami, Jeff also worked with the Royal Caribbean Cruiselines, writing captions for their coffee table book, Elegance at Sea. Most recently, Jeff was employed by Switchboard of Miami Inc., a private non-profit crisis counseling organization. He was very active in their annual fund-raising event, Ruby Anniversary Gala.

Jeff was active in promoting humanitarian efforts in U.S. and Cuban relationships, and co-authored the book, “After the Bay of Pigs” with the late Pablo Perez-Cisneros and John B. Donovan.

Jeff also authored a cookbook entitled “Pearls from the Kitchen” under the pen name “Jeffrey Campanelli,” from the Mama Mia Publishing Co., Washington, D.C.

Jeff is survived by his mother, Pearl Koenreich of Salem; two sisters, Paula Koenreich and his twin sister, Elizabeth (Beth) A. Fisher, both of Salem; and a brother Philip Scott Koenreich and his wife Cindy of Sarasota, Fla. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Brenda Hall Bosley and her daughter Kayla of Lexington, N.C.; Jesse Patrick Fisher and fiance Milena Sena of Miami, Fla.; Eric Koenreich and Ashley Koenreich, both of Tampa, Fla.; Devon Fisher Stryffeler and her husband Sean and their son Caden of Charlotte, N.C.

A memorial service will be held at the Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen Funeral Home at 7 p.m. Friday, May 23, with a time of visitation from 6 p.m. until the service.

Those wishing to honor Jeff’s memory are encouraged to make donations in his name to Mobile Meals of Salem Inc., 1995 E. State St., Salem Ohio 44460.

5/8/08

(Paid obituary)