Jeffrey L. Caruso, of West Concord and formerly of Carlisle, MA, died on June 7, 2023 from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome after 31 days at Emerson Hospital.

Jeff was born on August 7, 1953 in Boston to Antonio "Tony" Caruso and Pearl (Coughlin) Caruso. He grew up in Watertown, West Concord, and Concord, graduating from CCHS in 1971. He earned his S.B. in Mathematics at MIT in 1975 (where he lived in Russian House), and his PhD. from the University of Chicago in 1979. He did post-doctoral work in Algebraic Topology at Cambridge University in England, and taught at UNC Chapel Hill. He was a member of the startup team at Atex, developing software that revolutionized the printing and publishing industry. He was employed for the last 25 years as a Rocket Scientist at Pageflex. He was involved in the development of the algorithm for the music identification app Shazam.

Jeff was a true renaissance man. He loved chess, working as a tournament director and with the Billerica Chess Club and Massachusetts Chess Association. Singing was his passion, both with the St. Irene Choir and Nashoba Valley Chorale. He delighted in performing in the St. Irene Murder Mysteries, and was a man of great faith. He curated an extensive library ranging from ancient history to literary realism to modern technology. He walked weekly with the Concord Runners, was active with the Knights of Columbus, and loved attending the Boston Ballet. He became a proficient bread baker.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 41 years, Melissa Weiksnar of Buffalo NY, his son Philip, his wife Kaitlin and their daughter Rowan of Portland ME, and his daughter Evelyn of Portland, OR. He also leaves behind his sister Laurene Gili and her husband Patrick, along with nephews Alexander and Zachary, and many loving relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his daughter Amy, his parents, brother Dennis, and sister Karen.

Family and friends gathered for visiting hours in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, MA on Saturday, June 10th from 4 to 7 pm and again on Sunday, June 11th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, June 12th at 10:30 am in St. Irene Parish, 181 East Street, Carlisle. Burial followed at St. Bernard's Cemetery in Concord, where he was laid to rest near Amy.

 Please click here to view the video recording of Jeff's Funeral Mass  . The Mass program can be downloaded  here  .

 Please click here to view the words of remembrance offered at the Colonial Inn reception. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jeff's name to the  Nashoba Valley Chorale  or the  Living Memorial Chess Fund c/o Massachusetts Chess Association  .

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, MA.

  Words of Remembrance offered at Mass by Evelyn Caruso  

 Good morning, thank you so much for being here to celebrate the life of Jeff Caruso. 

 My father left this world June 7th at 1:10pm. He was an extraordinary person and we are all absolutely shattered that he's gone. 

 My father contained multitudes. He was a keen intellect, a passionate chess player, a beautiful tenor singer, an avid reader, a decorated scholar, a devout Catholic, a talented baker, and an innovative industrial pioneer. 

 Even if you never met him, his genius touched your life. If you've read a newspaper or magazine in the last 50 years, you should know that he was one of the software engineers who wrote the code that took printed media from typesetting to electronic; revolutionizing the publishing industry on an international level. If you've ever used the music identifying app Shazam he designed the algorithm; repeatedly listening to Britney Spears' seminal smash hit "oops I did it again" in order to map the song's structure. When I would ask him exactly how many times he had to subject himself to that particular tune, he'd affect a thousand yard stare and say "oh, SO many times." 

 But my father never boasted of these achievements. That was not the kind of man he was. If you ever met him, he was much more interested in you: what you cared about and what made you tick. He was gentle and self effacing, with a wicked sense of humor and a booming cackle of a laugh. He was unfathomably generous and truly good. He made space for everyone in his life and loved us all uniquely, without reservation or condition. He was constantly curious about everything around him, and never lost his sense of childlike wonder. I will always admire his innate ability to pause, and simply marvel at the world around him. 

 I believe the best things about him will live on in his family. He was a spectacular gift giver, always knowing precisely the right thing that we needed without even asking. He instilled in his children a passion for the arts. From infancy he took us to libraries, concerts, galleries, museums, plays, movies and dance performances. He was also a rabid sports fan with a lifelong dedication to the Red Sox, the Celtics and the New England Patriots. I'll really miss talking to him about politics and pop culture. His insights about everything always made me smile. 

 When we lived in England he would drive us around to explore the pastoral countryside for what he called "surrounding towns adventures." He and my mother fostered and supported anything we ever wanted to do, from singing lessons to snowboarding to graduate school. He taught us so much about how to be kind, in this world that often feels so unspeakably cruel. He taught us to stand up to the lions of injustice in ways that inspired strength and bravery. 

 It is through this fortitude that we will carry on, though it seems impossible right now. While his death was devastating and untimely, we are honored by the care he received at Emerson hospital from the skilled team of doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, patient care technicians and custodians all of whom played a pivotal role in making sure his needs were met. None of us will ever forget everything they did for him during his time there. 

 For him to die 2 months before retirement feels indescribably unfair. He was so looking forward to spending more time with his family, who were the most important part of his life, especially our newest member: his beloved granddaughter Rowan. He really wanted to become more involved in politics because he cared so deeply about his country. Right now, I am profoundly sad and angry, but I know he would not want me to be. So I'm taking comfort in the memories of a beautiful life we were blessed to share together for 37 years, because I wouldn't be here without him. 

 Up until he went into the hospital my dad was working on the extensive and painstaking project of digitizing all the photos of his life. Thousands and thousands of images capturing his travels and his triumphs. Every animal he ever interacted with. All the people and places he loved so much. Wonderful details of a life well lived. In his office there's still a neon pink post-it note attached to his printer that says in all caps "DO NOT WASTE LIFE" It could be a reminder to turn off the machine after use, but this message takes on a profound meaning in retrospect. So this is where I leave you all today. A church full of people from so many different communities all united in grief for my incredible world of a father. Do not waste life. Live it on your own terms. Love unconditionally. And never stop trying to make the world a better place for everyone to enjoy. 

 I'd like to finish with a line from Hamlet: one of my father's favorite works of literature. 

 Now cracks a noble heart, Good night sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.