Wayne County Wanderings: Family grapples with heartbreaking loss of Jeff Chorba

“What would you like people to remember most about him?” I asked.

A deep silence descended on the living room, each family member lost in thought. It lasted about a minute before Eileen Chorba broke the spell.

We'd spent the past hour talking about her son Jeff, who'd been tragically killed in a paramotoring accident Friday morning in Beach Lake.

Eileen had just returned home from making funeral arrangements, so she was understandably drained. She was also still reeling from the loss of her husband Ron just four months before.

As exhausted and heartbroken as she was, though, I could see Eileen's eyes light up at the question as countless happy memories flooded her mind.

He Always Wanted to Help

“Jeff was a wonderful person,” she said in a strong, clear voice.

“He was just so thoughtful and caring and honest. He would help anyone who needed it. And, he always found the good in everyone he met.”

Jeff's brother Steve, quickly echoed that sentiment.

“What amazed me is how Jeff would drop whatever he was doing if someone needed him,” Steve said. “He never hesitated. When someone reached out, Jeff was the first one there. No questions asked.”

Jeff's little sister Ellen took a deep breath and, fighting back tears, shared her own thoughts.

“He was a great brother,” she said simply. “I loved him a lot. We had some really deep conversations over the years. He always made me think.”

Jeff's sister-in-law Michelle smiled when she recalled his desire to help youngsters struggling to find their way in life.

“Jeff was drawn to help kids who were kind of lost,” she said. “He really extended himself. Jeff took them under his wing and tried to steer them back in the right direction. He was just a such a good guy.”

Selfless and Patient

I first met Jeff Chorba back in the early 1990s when we both worked at Woodloch Pines.

At the time, I was just starting out as a part-time local journalist. I was passionate about writing, but knew absolutely nothing about computers. Thankfully, a mutual friend at the resort referred me to Jeff when he heard I was looking to buy my first word processor.

Jeff couldn't have been kinder when I reached out to him for advice. We talked several times over the course of about two weeks as I pondered what I should do.

Then, when I finally took the plunge and bought my first desktop computer, Jeff came over to the house to help me set it up.

I can't tell you the number of times he answered my questions or talked me down off the ledge when I did something dumb that caused my screen to freeze up.

Jeff was a incredibly patient with me, calmly extricating me from whatever mess I'd gotten myself into. He was soft-spoken, meticulous and laser-focused.

He was also self-taught, a brilliant autodidact who immersed himself in one passion after another … from computers and landscaping to outdoor sports like kayaking, snow boarding and flying.

YouTube Superstar

According to Eileen, Jeff's fascination with paramotoring began about five years ago.

One day, purely by chance, he came across a video on social media posted by Tucker Gott.

A YouTube adventurer with more than 1.5 million subscribers, Gott is based in New Jersey and has flown all over the world.

The two became fast friends after Jeff reached out to ask advice about getting started in paramotoring. Tucker recalls Jeff being completely hooked after his first demo flight.

From that day forward, the pair spent countless hours together, the start of what Tucker calls a wonderful friendship.

“Beyond our flying adventures, Jeff was a dear friend who I could talk with about anything,” Tucker said. “He and I had the best late night conversations about pretty much everything.

“Jeff was one of the most selfless and supportive people I've ever known. He was an inspiration.”

A Gentle Soul

Jeff was eager to share his newfound passion for paramotoring with family and friends.

And while his Dad never really warmed to the idea, his Mom knew right away how important flying was to their son.

“It was his therapy,” Eileen said. “Jeff always told me he was at peace when he was up there. And, it was true. You could just see it in his eyes.”

One of the people Jeff took flying with him was Karen Mander. I've known Karen all my life. We were classmates all through elementary and high school, eventually graduating together from HHS in 1984.

Karen went on to start an extremely successful business, Apple Day Spa and Salon, which thrives to this day.

She and Jeff were friends for many years, so when he began exploring the world of paramotoring, she was intrigued … so much so that when he asked if she wanted to go up, she jumped at the chance.

“Jeff was a gentle soul with a passion for being in the air,” she said. “I loved flying with him.”

Karen took several photos during one such flight last August. You can see in their beaming smiles just how much fun it was.

“Jeff was so kind and held a special place in the hearts of so many people. Over and over again you hear about what a great guy he was and how much he's going to be missed.

“The skies are going to be so empty without Jeff floating around up there above us.”

The Gift of Grace

After leaving the Chorba home, I climbed in my car and drove slowly back toward Honesdale.

Route 652 passes right by the turn for Barracuda Drive, the spot where Jeff's tragic crash occurred.

The sky was a brilliant blue as I pulled off, cut the engine and stepped out.

Standing there, gazing up into that pristine cerulean sky, I could hear Eileen's voice in my head. Just as our talk was winding down, she'd spoken from the heart about Jeff's unexpectedly calm reaction to his father's passing back in January.

“Jeff had received the gift of grace,” she said, eyes shining and a slight quiver in her voice. “He told me that Dad was at peace, that he's in a better place and that someday we'll be there too.”

Honestly, I can't think of a better way to close out this tribute.

Jeff Chorba was a genuinely good man who spent his entire life trying to help people. And, in the process, he forged heartfelt connections with family, friends and even with God.

Here's hoping that his words will bring a measure of comfort to a grieving family and inspiration to all of his friends.

Fly high, Jeff!