In Memory of
Jeffrey H. Hagan

Jeffrey Howard Hagan, 74, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026. Jeff is survived by his daughter Madison (Maddie) Hagan and son Sean Hagan; his sister Vickie Hagan; and his former wife Maryl Hamilton (née Van Geem), with whom he remained close. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joan and OD Bush, and his maternal grandparents, Ruby and Madison Arnold.  

Born on February 10, 1952, Jeff grew up in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee (UT) with a degree in Biology. Jeff's college biology team discovered a new species of fish, the Snail Darter — a tiny fish that became a very big deal, landing at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case over the Tennessee Valley Authority's Tellico Dam project back in the ’70s. It was a story Jeff enjoyed sharing.

After college, Jeff ventured from Tennessee to Oakland, California, for a few years and then found his home in Phoenix for over 45 years. Jeff jumped right into the emerging High Tech (IT) industry in the ’80s with IT being his passion forever. He worked in IT for several large companies, including Avaya (Lucent), over the next 25 years. Moving forward, he was an integral part of the IT and Sales team at Tempe Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram for over 20 years.

Jeff enjoyed fishing, hunting, golf, music, movies, technology, sports, cars, and family time. Jeff had a great voice and loved to sing. He adored his two children Maddie and Sean. They were the center of his life. He always made it a point to be the best father and guardian to them.

Jeff had a fun, youthful and positive spirit and had a great and witty sense of humor. Jeff believed in showing kindness, lively conversation, and always passing along some interesting or “cool” piece of information.

He made an everlasting imprint on the lives of people around him. Jeff was loved by family, friends, and co-workers alike. Thanks for the love and the laughs, Jeff. You will be greatly missed.

A private service was held with Jeff’s immediate family. 

Jeff’s daughter Madison is Deaf, and Jeff spent years searching for cures and treatments. Hearing Health Foundation is the largest nonprofit funder of hearing loss research in the U.S., working toward cures and treatments for all types of hearing loss. Their “Hearing Restoration Project” is focused on discovering hair cell regeneration pathways, studying gene expression, and developing treatments for inner ear hearing loss. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to Hearing Health Foundation (HHF). Please use the online form below, or you can mail memorial donations to:

Hearing Health Foundation
PO Box 1397
New York, NY 10018

(Please note on your donation: “In memory of Jeffrey H. Hagan”)

For donation questions, contact HHF at 212.257.6140 or info@hhf.org.

The family would also welcome any memories of Jeff that you would like to share with them. Please email: jhagan.memories@gmail.com.

One more request… We urge our friends and family reading this to please make a phone call to someone you love today and/or give a loved one a special hug.

Thank you and much love to all.

Hearing Health Foundation sincerely thanks the family and friends of Jeffrey H. Hagan for their support of our mission to find better treatments and cures for hearing loss, tinnitus, and related hearing and balance conditions.

All donors are recognized and acknowledged in our Annual Report. HHF's responsible and effective donor stewardship practices earn top marks from all the major charity watchdogs including Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, and GuideStar.