Jeffrey A. Child, 58

Jeffrey Andrew Child, 58, of Coeur d'Alene, died Saturday, April 5, 2014, while on vacation in Mexico.

Jeff was born February 6, 1956, to Robert and Frances Child in Springfield, Illinois. He graduated from Carbondale Community High School in Illinois and from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 1980 Jeff received his law degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder; there he met fellow law student Heidi L. Fisher, who became his wife of 33 years. Since moving to Coeur d'Alene in 1980, Jeff and Heidi have partnered in the law firm of Child and Fisher.

Shortly after coming to Coeur d'Alene, Jeff became very active in the United Way organization and annual United Way campaigns for several years. Jeff gave his time as campaign manager or treasurer for various local political candidates over the years and also sought to serve the community in public office himself, by running for county prosecutor on two occasions. Jeff believed passionately in the mission, purpose, and performance of the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy. He served as member of the Board of Directors of the Academy for eight years and as chair from November 2006 to July 2010. During Jeff's leadership on the board, he devoted much wisdom, insight, time, and energy to the school.

Jeff is survived by his wife Heidi, who was with him at his death. He is also survived by his daughter Hillary; his parents Robert and Frances Child, of Carbondale, Illinois; his sisters Chanda Child, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Tressa DiGiorgio, of Summerfeld, North Carolina; and nephews Ian, Jared, and Joel DiGiorgio. He also leaves behind his mother-in-law, Kay Fisher, of Warren, Ohio.

Jeff graced the lives of family, friends, acquaintances and strangers alike, from all walks of life, with his decency, charm, wit, geniality and genuine regard. Jeff's generous warmth, optimism, good cheer, sincere interest and ready helping hands are woven into anyone who crossed paths with him. Jeff's family invites all whose hearts he lifted and lives he enriched to join us in a memorial service and celebration of Jeff's life at 4:00 pm on May 9 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d'Alene. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy.