Jeff Magalif

Jeff Don Magalif, 64 of Kansas City, Mo. passed away on September 8, 2015. He attended Pembroke Day School, where he edited the newspaper The Hilltop, using the legend of the school crest, “Lux Effulgeat” (“Let the light shine”); performed in school musicals; and was the school valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar in 1968. He graduated from Harvard College in 1974 with a degree in Social Relations, and was a contributor to the Crimson.  Jeff’s early days included travel to Central America and visiting all of the MLB stadiums on game days. He was a sports chartist for the Los Angeles Times and from 1991 until 1996 a writer for the New Times in Kansas City. In his later years he spent much time compiling statistics of major league baseball teams and players, which he hoped to publish. His encyclopedic recall of sports facts allowed him to win about half of his attempts to “stump the chumps” (a local call-in radio program). He had 50 friends on Facebook, posting countless videos of popular artists. He liked to take long walks with friends and spontaneously entertain with songs from musicals.
Jeff’s parents, John & Paula Magalif preceded him in death and no close family succeed him.  John, a psychiatrist, emigrated from Hungary after losing his first wife and a son to the Nazis in WWII.
Burial will take place at the Rose Hill Cemetery at 69th and Troost at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 3.  Please offer condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com.

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