A Virtual Cup of Coffee with Jeff Kagan '97
Jeff majored in Zoology at Michigan State University with an unwavering intent to study medicine. He prepared to take the MCAT for admission into Medical School before veering mightily to a series of nomadic travels, backpacking trips, and a slew of seasonal jobs, all of which helped him uncover a love and passion for the natural world. In 2004 Jeff heard from a fellow nomad of a Master's program set on a traveling biodiesel school bus and promptly enrolled for the fall of '05. It was here that he met his future best friend, colleague, and wife, Paige. Today, "Jeff & Paige" have reached thousands of children with their joyful spirit of play and passion for ecological awareness through over 2,000 live shows and seven different albums.
You can only have one: Rose’s caramel corn, an ice cream cone from Jersey Junction, or a Yesterdog. Which do you choose?
Yesterdog all the way! While all 3 of those hometown establishments have a place in my heart and tummy, Yesterdog takes the shredded pickle cake. After 49 years under the great Bill Lewis, my sister [Lisa (Kagan) Rapoport '93] and her fiance [Pat Connor '91] are the new owners of the Dog. Surreal and magical to have this GR fixture (which comprises an estimated 12% of my body mass) in the family. I have been over to Eastown for at least one Veggie Dog (which my non-GR-native wife calls "a condiment bun") per day on my latest return home
What was your path from East Grand Rapids to where you are now in life?
MSU --> Americorps --> Nature nomad (month-long hikes on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Colorado Trail, 5 organic farms) --> teacher at Nature's Classroom, an environment education center in the Adirondacks --> field-based grad school on a biodiesel school bus where I met my wife and performance partner --> Boulder, CO, where we've been performing/creating nature- and science-based concerts and albums for kids for the past 21 years
What specific thing did you learn in East that has enabled you to be successful?
The brilliance of community. My parents and sister have been and remain rooted in EGR for 5 decades. This family and this small city have given me a sense of place and a sense of belonging, a core value that Paige and I have sought to replicate a few states west of Michigan.
What were you like in school?
My folks got a call from Mr. Ogilvie (former EGRMS principal) after a band and orchestra concert in the early 90s. I was 2nd to last chair of the saxophones. Last chair (Jake Leech '97!) and I stood up during one of the songs and did an absurd, unsanctioned dance with our instruments mid-song. When my parents confronted me, I responded, "The concert needed some pizazz. I'm the pizazz." Took me a while to spin that whim into a career but, well, here we are :)
Did you have a favorite teacher or class?
Mrs. Trout, my 1st and 3rd grade teacher at Wealthy!
If you had to choose one moment in one location to serve as the signature moment of your East school experience, what would it be?
Performing "Cheeseburger in Paradise" with a live band of my classmates (including co-lead vocalist Carl Liggett '97) while wearing homemade burger costumes, my first-ever live performance onstage at the High School Variety Show in '96. I'd also have to say that my most signature East school experience would hands-down have to be performing two school assembly concerts at my old elementary school (Wealthy). In addition to the general joy of taking the stage at Pioneer Auditorium (first time since that Cheeseburger in Paradise performance ironically), I got to dress two of my elementary school teachers up in honeybee costumes and have them teach the Jeff & Paige version of the waggle dance to the current batch of Wealthy students. Very warm, beautiful experience.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known then?
Costume up for every social and/or significant experience. I wish I'd gone to Mr. Troost's world history final exam dressed as Genghis Khan...at the very least, I bet I would've gotten a few points of extra credit
Do you stay in touch with many people from East Grand Rapids?
Definitely. Some of my best friends remain EGR hometown heroes including two of my very closest friends in Colorado (Andy Gruel '98 and Kurt Mester '98)
What advice do you have for young East alums who are just starting out?
Careers that don't yet exist are yours for the taking/making! Also, bike or rollerblade around Reeds Lake at least once/season.
Who else would you like us to have a virtual cup of coffee with?
Andy Gruel '98, this man is single-handedly keeping climate emissions down in Colorado through his work permitting corporations in our State (not to mention contributing piano and synth on all seven "Jeff & Paige" albums). Furthermore, he's intelligent, funny, and remembers more about his upbringing in EGR than anyone else I know!
Bonus question: What are you glad we didn’t ask you about?
Putting a door hanger in the backdoor to the EGRHS Little Auditorium and covertly sleeping over in the school, showering in the pool locker room and heading right to 1st period, one of the worst night's sleep of my 46 years.
