I am indescribably saddened to inform our readers and friends that Jeff Dunetz, a longtime friend of and occasional contributor to Hot Air, passed away today at age 67. Jeff had health struggles over the last few years, but kept his wit and his humor about him at all times. His passing came suddenly, and his family grieves the loss, especially coming just days after the birth of his first grandchild.
Warner Todd Huston, Jeff's friend as well as his longtime partner and contributor at The Lid, offers a good look at all of Jeff's accomplishments:
Jeff spent much of his professional life in magazine marketing and advertising working for such companies as Disney Publishing, Nickelodeon, Discover Magazine, MTV, and Marvel Comics.
But it was blogging and commentary on current events that was Jeff’s real passion. Dunetz was one of the early blogging leaders and commentators when the world of center-right blogging really caught fire in the early part of the 2010s. And by 2013 he had formally started the LidBlog to deliver news and views on U.S. and Israeli politics and history. And in doing so, Jeff became one of the leading self-made bloggers appearing on TV, Radio, Podcasts, and the Internet throughout the media.
Dunetz leaves a strong and important legacy of writings and commentary about Israeli history and American politics and left us with stories and information that remain to this day invaluable to all of us.
That's not all that remains invaluable to us. Jeff and I had a close friendship for the past twenty years, often conspiring to meet up at events and having regular phone and WhatsApp chats. Jeff had a way of always brightening my life, and maybe had a second sense for when I was struggling a bit. Our last conversations were about his new grandson Benjamin, and about how neither of us had been to a Coldplay concert.
His last message to me was to send me this picture, which is pure Jeff:
Somehow, I know Jeff would be tickled pink that I shared that with you.
How do I sum up all that Jeff meant to me? Like with Jazz Shaw, it's simply not possible. Jeff was more like an older brother to me, and even as I type that, I can hear his voice saying, "Who're you calling 'older'?" He had a great sense of humor, but that could only momentarily obscure his whip-smart mind and his huge heart. We knew we could talk about anything and joke around with each other in a loving sense about most of the world. He was a great sounding board for me, and a great resource on the issues that mattered most to him -- his love of America, Israel, and liberty.
He was a lovely, lovely man, and a great friend.
Jeff was many things, but most importantly, he was a loving father who raised two remarkable people. I have the pleasure of spending time with his wife Lois, who also became our friend, and with his daughter Alexa, who used to come to events with Jeff and keep us company. I don't believe I ever got to meet his son Perry, but Jeff spoke of him often and with great love. He would have been a wonderful grandfather, and my heart breaks that the baby will never get to know what a loving man he was. Lois, Alexa, and Perry have the true story of Jeff, and I hope they will share it with us when the time is right and the grief is not too much to overcome.
In the meantime, please pray for Jeff and all of his family and friends. He has so many of us who will carry him in our hearts for the rest of our lives. May his memory ever be a blessing.
Note: Please keep checking Lidblog.com for more updates on the memorial for Jeff.
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