My Heart’s Desire, Jeff Angelo passed on April 11, 2025, in the arms of Pam, his devoted wife of 29 years. He was 60 years old. He will be missed by Pam’s brothers, Mike and Bob, and her mother Billie along with her husband, Gary, as well as Pam’s cousins and family. Jeff loved and cared deeply for his mother, Eleanor, his brothers Nick and Steve, as well as his cousins and family in the Bay Area. Jeff moved to Eureka in 1986 and lived in Humboldt County the rest of his life.

Jeff was born under a wandering star and left home at 15. He worked his way through high school for a place to live, for food, clothes on his back and a car to get to work. At one point, his car only operated in reverse and that’s how he drove it, looking out the back window just so he could get to work and keep his job.

At 17 Jeff joined the Army and it was off to Germany he went. He worked on tanks and earned several badges for his uniform: one being for expert marksmanship. He acquired a license for driving emergency vehicles and spent time driving the brass around. Jeff was stationed in an old SS barracks and told some interesting stories about that experience. He was honorably discharged in 1986.

Upon arriving home, Jeff went to work at Aero Nostalgia, where they dismantled and reassembled old planes. Jeff’s brother Nick was crewing with Bill Burchell on “The Becky” and they needed a second for crab season, so Jeff hopped aboard. He knew he had found his calling. Jeff then spent a salmon season with Bob Burchell on “The Princess” and then it was back to “The Becky” with Bill and his brother Nick. Nick hopped off around 1990 and that’s when the ‘North to Alaska’ saga started for Jeff and Captain Billy, where they filled over 10 years of logbooks fishing together. Bill bought the “Marion Ann” and Jeff fished a shrimp season with him, but it was time for different waters.

Jeff crewed on “The El Cerrito” with his childhood friend Larry Dozier and Casy at the wheel. Jeff then spent some time on “The Al W” with Kenny Burns and Steve in the next bunk. He got the call from Griff, and it was on to the “The Chief Joseph” and Louie Cook as the other hand crabbing. Jeff and Griff crabbed California and salmon fished California, Oregon and Alaska until 2004. Jeff bought “The Chief Joseph” in 2005 and stepped into the captain’s chair.

Jeff was a hardworking and honest man. He always left the fish tickets out after they sold, so his crew knew what they were getting. Jeff had a crab permit for California and salmon permits for California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. My husband was The Real Deal!

He was gone for months at a time. Commercial fisherman’s lives are measured in seasons — crab season, salmon season, albacore, etc. They miss birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, most holidays and at times each other’s funerals. When they do come home there is boat work, there is always boat work. That’s what you sign up for, that is the way it is. Their lives are what books are written from and what TV shows are about.

I got to spend 29 years with a kind-spirited man, with a back like a Redwood Tree and hands like mitts. He will always be my Snookie Doodle, and I will miss him the rest of my life. I got to live the life of a commercial fisherman’s wife; I will treasure the memories forever.

I want to thank Jim Moser for posting Jeff’s passing on a commercial fisherman site. Jeff would have appreciated all who remembered him, and I do too. Then further thanks to some of you that were able to stay in touch. Jeff had a lot of darkness in his last years and your calls were light. Thank you to his Mom, Kenny Hill, John Terry, New York Steve, Shizzy, Wilson, Ernie, and Jimmy on the Tempest who always brought us crab. Thanks to Huck for doing the final call of duty and taking Jeff to his final fishing grounds. If I missed mentioning anyone, I’m sorry.

“My Heart’s Desire” is the song Jeff used to sing to me in his arms on the back deck of “The Becky” when we were coming in from crabbing. I will love you forever Buns! Your Beloved wife, Lollypop.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jeff Angelo’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.