Jeffrey Tennyson Andrews

MILLERTON — On June 22, Jeffrey Tennyson Andrews, 70, of Millerton died peacefully at Noble Horizons. He was unable to recover from a severe stroke he suffered in January. 

Jeff grew up in Madison, N.J., and spent many summers at his family’s house in West Cornwall. Some of Jeff’s fondest childhood memories include catching his first fish in Cream Hill Lake, climbing Lion’s Head with his father, jumping out of the Scoville farm hayloft with his brother and sister, and driving over the mountain with his grandmother to get ice cream in Sharon. He also enjoyed recounting the story of how he and teenage friends slogged miles through mud and climbed fences to attend the legendary Woodstock concert in 1969. 

Jeff attended Newark Academy in Livingston, N.Y., where he developed lifelong friendships and was captain of the football team. He graduated from Skidmore College in 1975, in one of the first co-ed classes. He was an enthusiastic booster and maintained deep ties with his alma mater, becoming class president in 2015 as well as chairing the 40th Reunion, which broke records for attendance. His co-chair, Noni Reilly, estimates that she and Jeff contacted nearly every one of their 400 classmates. She recalls him saying, “Hey, we’re sixty-something. Let’s bring everyone together while we’re still vertical.” 

After college Jeff worked for many years in advertising in New York City, including at Backer Spielvogel and DDB Needham. 

Jeff was an avid skier who, with patience and determination, persuaded his cold-averse wife, Anne Granfield, to embrace the sport as well, traveling with her on trips from Taos to Telluride.  In the early 2000s he and Anne spent their weekends at an 1841 former church in Norfolk that he threw himself into fixing up. In doing so, he discovered a flair for decorating, painting interior walls bold colors and planting a beautiful garden. He was soon visiting the Sandanona Shooting Grounds in Millbrook, where he spent many contented hours blasting clay pigeons. He said that at Sandanona, he appreciated the chance to get to know sportsmen whose politics he didn’t share. Jeff was the kind of guy who made friends everywhere he went, with waiters, cashiers, ski instructors, and when overseas, tour guides and strangers. 

Part of Jeff’s legacy is his many years of sobriety and mentoring those in need, sharing a conviction that his life’s purpose was to spread love and kindness. Yet he had a mischievous—even bawdy—sense of humor, and could be counted on to spice up every Scattergories game at family gatherings. He took a deep interest in the Berkshires area, its towns and their unique histories. Eventually, he became a Realtor with Elyse Harney Real Estate in Salisbury for several years before retiring.  

He was a wonderful husband to Anne, son to Nancy (and Howard, now deceased), brother to Mark and Melissa, and enthusiastic uncle to Kelsey, Andrews, Sanford, Nina and Luke. He also leaves behind mother-in-law Elizabeth, sisters-in-law Claire and Mary and brothers-in-law Laurent and Tom. Jeff’s upbeat, generous spirit, unflagging kindness and heartfelt bear hugs will be greatly missed. A memorial service will take place this fall.