July 28, 1943 – December 3, 2025
My beloved husband and our dear friend, Jeffrey Oliver Foott, died with grace and courage on December 3, 2025. Jeff was born on a July morning in 1943 in Oakland, California, to Oliver and Elda Foott. His life was filled with kindness, generosity, adventure, and extraordinarily good karma.
From an early age, Jeff was enchanted with the wonders of the natural world. He was a bird watcher at age 11, an Eagle Scout at 14, and began climbing in Yosemite at 16. Taught to fish by his grandfather and introduced to hiking by his grandmother in Lake Tahoe, both activities became lifelong passions.
He graduated from Albany High School and attended San Jose State, earning a degree in marine biology and a black belt in judo. At Moss Landing Marine Lab, he became captivated by sea otters and published several papers on their behavior.
A dedicated climber, Jeff scaled the Golden Gate Bridge, took on big walls in Yosemite, and frequently camped at Camp 4. In 1960, alongside Bill Amborn, he completed the 11th ascent of the Steck/Salathe route on the North Face of Sentinel Rock.
Jeff pioneered first ascents such as the Great White Book on Polly Dome in 1962 and completed the first one-day ascent of the northwest face of Half Dome—marking the first one-day ascent of a Grade VI climb. Jeff also soloed the first ascent of Patio Pinnacle on Glacier Point Apron in 1963 and served as Yosemite’s first rescue ranger for two years.
Having returned from Antarctica in 1964, Jeff teamed up with John Evans to complete the first ascent of the north face of Mitre Peak in New Zealand. A self-described “dirtbag,” Jeff lived out of his van and pursued climbs across the western U.S.
He eventually settled in the Tetons, working many years with Exum Guide Services and losing track of his Grand Teton summits after 100. He also worked ski patrol at Teton Village Ski Resort.
In Jackson, Jeff embraced photography and filmmaking, quickly gaining renown as a wildlife and landscape photographer and cinematographer. His work appeared in countless books and journals, producing over 40 films for Anglia Television, BBC, National Geographic, ABC Sports, and the Living Eden Series.
His first film, “Otters of Monterey Bay,” led to many underwater and mountain-top shoots. His subjects ranged from manatees and bald eagles to desert tortoises and polar bears. He was an expert scuba diver and captured marine life from giant kelp beds to arctic whale species. His bald eagle photo graced the cover of National Geographic, and his Patagonia film was Emmy-nominated.
A turning point came when a commercial opportunity with Genesee Beer enabled him to keep his home. Jeff loved his boats—especially Rosebud, his 36-foot trawler—and amassed a kayak collection. A skilled boater, he taught his grandchildren to kayak on the Snake River and to appreciate nature. He lectured at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, University of Utah, and for the Discovery Channel. He later sold his slide collection to the Discovery Channel during the dawn of digital photography.
Jeff was a master storyteller and world traveler. He joined early climbing expeditions into China, trekked around Manaslu in Nepal, and helped rescue others from an avalanche on Minya Konka. He led photo tours and adventures across the globe—Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Baja California, Japan, the Galapagos, Argentina, Bhutan, Mongolia, Cuba, Tonga, Iceland, New Zealand, Patagonia, Nepal, Antarctica, and more.
He was cherished by fellow climbers and photographers and was known for his gentle soul and thoughtfulness. His friendships, lasting from grade school to recent years, were marked by loyalty and gratitude. Many past girlfriends could attest to his sustained interest in their lives.
A devoted grandfather, Jeff ignited a sense of natural wonder in his family. He maintained homes in both southeastern Utah and the Greater Yellowstone region.
Jeff deeply believed in environmental conservation and was active in efforts to preserve the white bark pine forest against mountain pine beetle devastation and the habitat of pikas impacted by climate change. He generously supported environmental nonprofits including Sierra Club, Utah Rivers Council, Grand Canyon Trust, Nature Conservancy, Southern Utah Wilderness Association, Teton Raptor Center, Friends of the Great Salt Lake, World Wildlife Fund, Yellowstone Forever, Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Ring of Bone Zendo in Nevada City, California.
A practicing Buddhist, Jeff lived his beliefs—mindful, present, and surrounded by natural beauty. He remained intellectually curious and spiritually grounded until his final days. He died from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), a rare leukemia, surrounded by excellent care from Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.
The natural world has lost one of its great champions. We mourn the loss of this gentle and exceptional human being.
Jeff is survived by his wife, Judith Zimmerman; step-children Matthew Parks and Allison Parks; grandchildren Eva and Lincoln Parks (Salt Lake City); god-daughter Eleanor Cannon (Salt Lake City); brother Jerry (and Becky) Foott (Walnut Creek, California); multiple nephews; and countless lifelong friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeff’s name may be made to one of the listed environmental or spiritual organizations. A celebration of life will be held this summer in the Tetons.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
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