Recipient

Jeffrey Esters has led a life of adventure. Jeffrey has a sense of ambition and determination that has led him to where he is today. He has always had a natural talent for sport and after graduating high school, he received a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh to play football. He played for the university for 4 years and then went on to play in the NFL for 3 years. He played for renowned teams such as the NY Jets and the LA Rams before he had to retire.

A few years after retirement from the NFL he was diagnosed with heart disease. In September 2015, due to the severity of his cardiac condition, and after years of treatment, he underwent placement of a ventricular assist device at Memorial Regional Hospital. He was placed on the National Waiting list for a transplant and his journey began for a new heart. On December 16, 2016, he underwent a heart transplant by the exceptional transplant team at the Memorial Transplant Institute. Today, Jeffrey is thriving and is doing very well. He has been given the chance to continue to raise children and be a part of the lives of his family & friends. He is charismatic, generous, and enjoyable to be around. Jeffrey is honored by the gift of life he has received and plans to continue his journey of adventure as fruitful and productive as possible.