Our
Cousin Jeff Minerd
Guest Speaker at the 2000 Reunion
At our 2000 reunion, cousin and award-winning writer Jeff Minerd offered a glimpse of the challenges, choices and opportunities ahead for families. Now a public relations executive with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Jeff formerly was an editor covering science and technology for The Futurist, a national magazine that follows social and technological trends that may affect the future. In his speech, he shared some of The Futurist's predictions and observations, covering technology, healthcare and cultural trends. He also offered practical advice on how to create family balance in the years ahead.
In 1996, Jeff's piece, “Stepping Off,” won the F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story Contest, as judged by National Public Radio’s book reviewer. It later was published in the prestigious North American Review. Jeff has been awarded grants from the Maryland State Arts Council, and his works have appeared in The Skeptical Inquirer, Potomac Review, Wordwrights and others. He recently finished the manuscript of a novel. He and his wife Katy live in Takoma Park, MD, near Washington, DC.
While
raised in upstate New York, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Timothy M. Minerd,
Jeff’s roots run deep in Western PA. His
grandfather, William 'Melvin' Minerd, was born in Mt Pleasant, PA, and
his great-grandfather, Rev. William M. Minerd, (seen here with wife
Pearl) was a United Brethren (Methodist) Church
minister for 35 years in and around Mt. Pleasant, Somerset and Rockwood.
Jeff’s great-great grandfather, Charles M. Minerd, was a coke laborer
for decades at Bridgeport and Standard, and his great-great-great
grandfather, Eli Minerd, was a coal miner born on the old Minerd farm near where
our reunion is held.
Copyright © 2000 Mark A. Miner