Jeffrey Ross Topping loved riding fast roller-coasters. In high school, he was on the varsity wrestling team and excelled in math and Latin. Jeff's passion for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles began in 2006; eventually he convinced his father, stepmother and brother to start riding. At Thomas Nelson Community College he graduated magna cum laude in 2009. While working and studying, he tutored fellow students and coworkers. In 2010, Jeff passed away unexpectedly at age 31. "His eyes have been used in two successful corneal transplants, sotwo people can now see because of the donation of his eyes," said his family. "It helps knowing that Jeff was able to help more people.".

Jeffrey's Story

Jeffrey Ross Topping was born in Newport News, Va. on Feb. 1, 1979. He spent many of his weekends and summers at Busch Gardens with his mother, brother and cousins, where he loved riding all of the fast rollercoasters.

Jeff's mother passed away from breast cancer in 1995 when Jeff was 16. In 1997, Jeff graduated high school, where he was on the varsity wrestling team and excelled in math and Latin.

In 1998, Jeff went to work for SCI (corporate name of the Dignity Memorial network, sponsor of his floragraph) starting at Hampton Memorial Gardens in Hampton. In October 1999, he was promoted to Superintendent at a Virginia Beach cemetery and then transferred to Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Suffolk.

In 2004, Jeff went to work for the nuclear department of Northrop Grumman at Newport News Shipyard. He started taking classes at Thomas Nelson Community College, graduated magna cum laude and received the Hasting Award for engineering in 2009. After graduation, he continued his engineering education at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. In 2010, he was promoted to a supervisory position after completing more specialized training at the shipyard. While working and studying, he was tutoring fellow students and coworkers.

Jeff's passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles began in 2006, with a 2005 Screamin' Eagle Softail Fat Boy. A month later, he convinced his father to buy a 2006 Dyna Low Rider and they enjoyed several rides together including Virginia and North Carolina state rallies. In 2007, Jeff took off on his motorcycle, by himself, from Newport News to ride to the Grand Canyon, but only made it to New Mexico where he had to turn back due to a winter storm. In 2009 he convinced his stepmother to start riding a motorcycle and later the same year, he had his brother riding also.

In 2010, Jeff passed away unexpectedly at age 31. "We were contacted by LifeNet, and we agreed to the donation of his eyes and heart valves," said his family. "His eyes have been used in two successful corneal transplants, so two people can now see because of the donation of his eyes. LifeNet has been very supportive of the family since the donation and continues to stay in touch. It helps knowing that Jeff was able to help more people."