Jeff Shiffrin, Morris Co. Native And Dad Of Olympic Skier, Dies

MORRIS COUNTY – Jeff Shiffrin, father of World Cup racer and two-time Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin and a Morris County native, has died, his daughter announced on Monday. He was 65.

Shiffrin died following an accident at his home in Edwards, Colo. on Sunday, according to skiracing.com. He graduated from Dover High School in 1972 where he was captain of the ski team, according to nj.com.

Shiffrin was transported to a Denver-area hospital, where he was surrounded by his family during his final hours, including his son, Taylor; his daughter, Mikaela; and his wife, Eileen, who returned home from Europe, according to skiracing.com.

"My family is heartbroken beyond comprehension about the unexpected passing of my kindhearted, loving, caring, patient, wonderful father," Mikaela wrote on Facebook. "Our mountains, our ocean, our sunrise, our heart, our soul, our everything. He taught us so many valuable lessons...but above everything else, he taught us the golden rule: Be nice, think first. This is something I will carry with me forever."

Jeff went to Dartmouth College and met his future wife while working as an anesthesiologist at a Boston-area hospital, according to nj.com. Both immersed their kids in the sport since they were both competitive skiers, nj.com said.

"He was the firm foundation of our family and we miss him terribly," Mikaela wrote. "Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for respecting my family's privacy as we grieve during this unimaginable and devastating time.”