David Jeffrey

We were so sorry to hear about David. You had a wonderful life together and that is to be treasured. As long as we can remember it has always been Janet and Dave, you belonged together. His funeral was very moving and we listened with interest to hear about his life. You have a lovely family and they will look after you in times to come.

I have wonderful memories of David particularly on field trips to the Burren. Climbing Mullach Mor with David and learning from him about grasslands and the soil was inspirational. He was a great support and mentor for my first years in Botany at TCD never to be forgotten.

Dear Rebecca and Family, I am very sorry to hear of David Jeffrey’s passing. I was lucky enough to be in his first cohort of environmental science undergraduates at TCD in the early 1990s. Such an inspirational teacher, kind mentor and a visionary for field of environmental science. To this day I still think of the skills and ideas he shared.
Garrett Kilroy

Deepest sympathy to Janet, Anna, Helena and Rebecca on the passing of David. We have many happy memories of him from Trinity.

Sincerest sympathies to David’s family. I didn’t know him personally very well but was always inspired by his contributions to a wide range of environmental issues; written (academic papers and more general pieces) and also orally, and especially the easy manner in which he encouraged and led discussions at conferences, seminars, etc.
Michael O’Connell (Galway)

I was very sorry to hear of David’s death. We were colleagues in An Taisce - The National Trust for many years and I remember in particular his invaluable contribution to “Energy in Question”, our important publication on the issue which has become so crucial in this era of climate change. My deepest sympathy to his family.

Dear Rebecca,
My sincere condolences to you and all the family on the passing of your dad. My thoughts are with you at this time.

I was very sad to hear of David’s passing. I was lucky enough to have been one of David’s PhD students in the Botany Department. It was because of his lectures that my interest in ecology was sparked, opening up all sorts of possibilities. Not only was he a superb academic, he was also a deeply kind human being, caring for his students’ welfare beyond his academic role. My abiding memories are of him striding about in the field, bringing ecology to life. I’m sure he’s doing the same thing now in the next world. My thoughts are with his loving family at this time.

I was so sorry to hear of David Jeffrey's death, and so very sorry not to have been at his funeral, I was not well at the time. Please accept my deepest condolences, he was a super person, and stoic these last few years which I think were hard for him as such an intellectual. He was a constant presence in the Botany Dept in the early 1980s when I was doing a PhD (he was not my supervisor). He was always encouraging, randomely gave me a book on the philosophy of science at one point, and his work on soil bulk density was so important ecologically; useful in my own work. I was so lucky to chat with him at a recent retirement 'Do' in TCD Botany, and am so glad I had that time with him so recently.
May he rest in peace.

To Janet and all the family.
I knew David from often taking the same DART as him into College. Being primarily a medieval archaeologist in TCD I learnt so much about our climate then, and also about the diverse plant cover in different parts of medieval Ireland.
I, too, will miss him.

Dear Janet, Anna, Helena & Rebecca,
Our deepest sympathies to you on the passing of your beloved husband and father. May David rest in peace.
From all at McDermott's Pharmacy

Thank you David for your creative teaching and superb constructive criticism on my assignments (set and marked by you) while I was an undergraduate in Botany. I remember well a rainy field trip to Bull Island (where you wore a fisherman’s wool jersey rather than a coat!) and an excellent practical course on plant propagation in TCD Botanical Gardens. And you recommended we buy Felco secateurs because they will last a lifetime. I had my one for over 25 years until I lost it on a plant collection trip in Asia. I was given a replacement by German plant collector colleagues.. and this continues to provide service to this day. Your fascination in plants became mine, though I am working on agriculture crops and systems rather than on ‘tender and rare’ garden plants. I still use the concepts of soil plant relationships you taught us 30 years ago from your excellent text book. You have left a legacy in our Plant Science world. Thank you. Greetings to Janet and Rebecca that may remember me as JCB.

My deepest condolences on the passing of your Father Rebecca.

May he rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to Janet and family on the passing of David. Our thoughts are with you at this time.

Sincere sympathies to Rebecca and all the Jeffrey family on David's passing. I have fond memories of him from my time in the Botany Department. May he rest in eternal peace.

On behalf of the Board of Management, staff, students past and present, and the wider Mount Temple school community, I wish to express our deepest sympathy to Janet, Anna, Helena, Rebecca and the extended family on the passing of David.

David was a former Chairperson of the Mount Temple Parents’ Association and played a key leadership role in the campaign for the school hall. His commitment and determination helped deliver a shared space that served the school community for decades and enabled opportunities that would otherwise not have existed.

Over the years, the hall became the setting for countless assemblies, productions, plays, musicals, concerts and school gatherings. It was a place where students performed, found their voice, built confidence and experienced a strong sense of community.

The experiences and opportunities that flowed from his work remain part of the school’s story, and for that he is remembered with genuine gratitude and appreciation.

Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time.

David Bane
Principal
Mount Temple Comprehensive School

Dear Rebecca I am so sorry to hear of your father's death. He headed the School of Botany while I was in my final year, while Professor Watts was away. I have the best memories of him, doing summer work for the book "The North Bull Island, a Modern Natural History" which he was comoiling. My deepest sympathy to your mum and all the family.

Sincere sympathy to Janet and family on David’s passing with great memories of the annual Garden Show at number one in those early years. David will live on in many of the Gardens in Thormanby Lawns.

As a former member of Howth Sutton I wish to say ‘so sorry for your loss ‘ to his family and friends.
It was evident at the meetings just how highly regarded he was held by the members. May he rest in peace .

Dear Janet, Anna, Rebecca and Helena. I am so sorry I made a mistake on dates for your dear David’s funeral and missed being there yesterday. I have such happy memories of all the Jeffrey family and , of course Nana Willoughby. David was such a warm soul, always so welcoming and walking around your beautiful garden was a joy with David guiding us. He was an absolute one off and I send my deep condolences on your very sad loss.

Dear Janet and Family, we offer our sympathy to you at this sad time. David was always a delight to meet and talk to. He was interested in so many things and of course your garden was wonderful.
May he rest in peace.

My sincere condolences on his death to David’s family: Janet, Anna, Helena, Rebecca and their relatives. I have known David since he was appointed in TCD in 1970 (I was a botanist in ‘the other place!’) and then came to live in
Howth in a lovely new house and (large!) garden just off Dungriffin Road, close to my Brien grandparents’ home in Rockmount: some 5+ decades ago - amazing! His interest in plant ecology mirrored mine, and we often chatted over the years! Sadly, I have missed seeing him in recent times.

His funeral this afternoon was very touching.

I will remember you, David.

May I offer my sincere condolences to Janet and David’s family. I am very sad to learn of his death. David was a great person, always positive and interested in all things botanical and horticultural, and he shared his knowledge freely. Many years ago I was contracted to renovate all the shrubberies and borders in TCD prior to Tercentenary celebrations. David was my mentor and ‘go to’ contact. He was always happy to advise and I was keen to learn so we got on very well and we made many good improvements.
We both served stints on IGPS committees and he was involved in our exhibits at Chelsea Flower Show. David can be credited with thinking up perfectly suitable titles for our winning exhibits in 1990 and 1992. No doubt the judges were charmed and helped win those medals.
David you will be missed by all who knew you. May you enjoy eternal rest and peace in Paradise.

So sorry to hear of David's passing. A wonderful person who gave so much to science, to his students and to all of the people in his life.

Condolences to Rebecca, Anna and all the family. Your dad left such a legacy - to you guys as his adored family, and to the rest of us through his influence on botany and gardening. He'll be missed.

So sorry for your loss of Dave, he was such a lovely man and I have such fond memories of him.
Sending our love and thoughts to you all.
Penny and Steve

Dear Janet and family,
Our sincere condolences to you all. David was a wonderful friend, and he will be greatly missed by us and all who live in Thormanby Lawns.
May he rest in peace.

Sincere Sympathy to Janet and Family on the passing of David May he rest in Peace Kenneth & Hazel Reamsbottom

So very sorry to learn of David’s death. Deepest sympathy to Janet and the family.

Dear Helena,

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your dad. He was a lovely man remembered with the greatest fondness and respect by the Rowe family especially for his incredible work for An Taisce including as president. I pray for comfort and strength for you all at this time.

With love,

Orla

Sincere sympathies to Helena, your mother and sisters and the extended family on the loss of your dad. My thoughts are with you all at this sad time.

With very much sympathy to Janet, Anna, Helena and Rebecca. I was very fortunate to have had David as my supervisor for my PhD. Always interested in the research, always encouraging and sound in his advice and guidance. I owe him a lot not only when in the Botany Department, but in field, garden and in his home where, in the early days especially, he and Janet entertained many of his students.

Dear Janet, Rebecca, Anna and Helena
My sincere condolences on the passing of your soulmate and beloved dad David. I haven’t known him long but was touched by his kind soul and gentle humour. My afternoon talking plants and visiting your beautiful garden is a fond and treasured memory. May his gentle souls rest in peace and petals in the garden of heven. 🥰

Rebecca my deepest condolences to you and all the family on the passing of your father. May he be at peace surrounded by nature, beautiful plants and birdsong.

David, it took me some time to find the words to write this. Accompanying your departure was hard, as I never imagined I would experience something like this. But as the days have passed, I have come to understand that you gave me one of the most beautiful gifts I have ever received: the privilege of accompanying you on your final journey in this life.

Thank you for allowing our paths to cross, and for bringing me into contact with your wonderful family and wife, who cared for you until your very last breath.

I will always carry in my memory this journey we shared — me as your carer, and you as a truly gentle and kind man.

I wish for your soul to transcend and to enjoy the fullness and peace of heaven.

Sincere condolences to Janet and family on behalf of the Irish Garden Plant Society.

I spent a wonderful afternoon, a few years ago, with Janet and David, learning to propagate. They were so kind and generous and informative, and such a lovely couple. My condolences to Janet and all his family on David's passing, may he rest in peace.

Dear Rebecca, Jools, your Mum & family,

Deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved Dad. Thinking of you.

Jon & Angela.

Dear Janet and family
I am very sad to hear about the death of David. I know he had been ill for some time and wonderfully looked after by you all. I am so glad he died at home surrounded by his family and loved ones.
Please accept my sincere condolences and love. Mary

Sincere sympathy to Janet and the Jeffrey Family on the passing of David May he rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to Janet, her daughters & to the extended Jeffrey family on the passing of David. May he rest in peace

With deepest sympathy from the Committee of Malahide Horticultural Society.

Deepest sympathy to Rebecca, and the entire Jeffrey family, on the loss of your Dad. David was an inspirational teacher and a great colleague and friend for many years. Whenever I visit the Bull Island or Ireland’s Eye I remember good times together.

Sincere sympathy to Janet and the Jeffrey family on the loss of David. David was a valued volunteer gardener in St Francis Hospice for many years. He spent so much time nurturing our gardens for our patients and families. We will never forget his kindness. Sending strength and love to you Janet and his adored daughters who he always talked so fondly about. May David rest in peace.

Very sad to learn of David’s passing and sincere condolences to Janet, Anna, Helena, Rebecca and all the Jeffrey family. David was a wonderful neighbour and we especially remember his great interest and concern to preserve the unique and special environment of the Howth peninsula and Dublin Bay and his dedicated voluntary public service for that purpose.

Sincere condolences Janet and family. May dear David rest in Peace. Monique

Dear Friend,
I'm sorry for your loss, Please accept My Condolences. You are in my prayers and thoughts.

Rebecca, thinking of you and your family at this sad time. May your Dad rest in peace.

Sincere sympathy to Janet and all the family. I was very lucky to have David as the supervisor for my PhD.He was always supportive and helpful and was unusual as an academic in that he also encouraged learning outside the formal academic system.

So sorry to hear of David's passing. He was a kind friend to me in my own time of sorrow, and afterwards. He was a brilliant scholar, and i treasure his recent book on Dublin Bay.
An Australian garden in Howth: what a miracle!

Sincere sympathy to you Rebecca at this very sad time. May your Dad rest in peace.

Dear Anna, deepest condolences on the passing of your father. Sincere sympathies to your mother, sisters, extended family in-laws and friends. My thoughts are with you all, at this sad time.

So sorry to hear of David’s death. I worked with him in Botany. Always a true gentleman.

Dear Janet, Rebecca and all
the family. I really very sorry to hear of David passing. He was a great leader, mentor and lecturer, I so enjoyed his excitement and delight in plants and the natural world .. his lectures were superb ..( I still treasure the notes! ).
I also have lovely memories of fascinating and enjoyable field trips in Dublin and Guyana. A wonderful man may he rest in peace .. my deepest condolences 🙏💚

I am saddened to hear of David's passing. He leaves a rich legacy through his life's work and his wonderful family. I had the privilege of working with Rebecca during my time in the Custom house; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

My deepest condolences to all of David's family, colleagues and friends at this sad time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

from Malcolm, Jennie Noonan and family.

So sorry Janet, to hear of Davids passing. He always had a smile on his face.
Thinking of you at this sad time.

Dear Janet and all the family. So many lovely plants and learnt of their care in my garden, Thank you David . May you rest in peace now in the garden in heaven. Sincerely Cody family.

Heartfelt condolences to Janet, Anna, Helena, Rebecca and families. Your home was always a peaceful oasis of greenery, animals, kindness and knowledge, with David’s gentle humour and twinkle in his eye. I am honoured to have known such a kind and learned man among my parents close friends and neighbours.

Condolence to Janet and the girls on there loss , I had the pleasure of caring for David for four years , absolute gentleman and I will always treasure the memories I have with David ,

My condolences to all the family xx