Jeff got married and had two kids. When the marriage floundered, Jeff left New York and his family and went West, young man, landing on Sunset Boulevard in the disco-infused drug world at Carlos ‘N Charlies. He was one of the most popular djs playing the dance-disco hits of Donna Summer until the last dance. He had burned himself out and apparently any hope of having a family. 

He sorely missed his son and daughter but they were upset with him for leaving their mother and the family. Communication was cut off. I shared my story with Jeff at the Rose Bowl event, how I created a toxic relationship with my son leading to a 17-year estrangement. But there was hope on the horizon and I shared that with Jeff. I shared with him how it didn’t happen like it was a light switch moment. Relationships take time. Slowly he and his son began to repair their fractured relationship. Years later, I’ll never forget when Jeff recounted a holiday trip to New York and his first meal with his boy. As he told the story I cried. And Jeff cried. Anything was possible. He had hope. 

Baugh wrote about the world of traffic reporting. His was the clearest voice and always a champion of being more than just a reporter of traffic congestion. "We could all do a lot better. We're that little part of the ‘clock’ or show that has been in need of a makeover for a long time. Now… more than ever! The ties between business, family time, anxiety, quality of life and traffic are undeniable. As broadcasters, we must have credibility with our audience. If what we say is not true, why in the world should they stay tuned? Radio speaks to the person who is already in the vehicle driving, or perhaps just about to leave.” 

He never complained. Jeff always presented a solution. “Let's break new ground. Let's try new ‘traffic language.’ Let's improve our game. Get off the incident. Tell our audiences how to get around the problem. Understand our audiences. One of the most astonishing things an airborne reporter can watch, is every on-ramp jammed with drivers trying to get on a section of freeway that has been closed for an hour. We need to do a better job. We need to throw out the old traffic jargon and think ‘traffic reporting.’ We can all do a lot better.” 

Jeff attended an industry seminar and was struck by something Chuck Blore, the former KFWB program director, said: “When Chuck said he always told his people that the most important word you can use is...YOU. I'm just a pup when it comes to broadcasting but when I started, I promised myself I would bring something new and good to traffic reporting. That was, trying to actually speak to someone...YOU. Boy, did I light up inside when he said that!” 

Jeff had a way of putting us into the freeway jam and also the perils of reporting. "It was early in the morning, around six thirty, when out of nowhere, ‘POW! Our windshield exploded and a homing pigeon crashed into our helicopter window and landed in the back seat." That’s how veteran airborne traffic reporter Jeff described his harrowing experience. "The bird crash blew Plexiglas everywhere. The noise was deafening, like a shotgun, when it happened because you are not prepared. We never saw it coming." 

Jeff explained that the first move after impact is to lower your speed as the wind gushes throughout the helicopter. They landed at Hawthorne Airport, taped up the window and then limped back to Van Nuys Airport. Jeff recounted when a bird hit the wing of "Air 98," a Cessna 172. He said it made a dent in the wing the size of a softball. 

Jeff loved his colleagues. He was struck by Valerie Geller’s observations about compelling radio. “I don't know the first thing about programming a radio station and even less about tv but I do know a lot about what a listener wants to hear at home before driving and while driving.” 

Valerie’s, three-point plan for broadcasters: ‘tell the truth, make it matter and never be boring deserves a ‘who-rah Valerie. In my tiny little niche of the radio clock: 1 - Tell the listener something's happening on the freeway/road whatever and it's NOT as that listener drives by. 2 - Not make it matter Hey, LISTEN UP, this could affect you.] 3 - Just prattle on without any purpose or thought as to what your audience is doing as you speak.....and the NEXT sound you will hear, just might be that fatal CLICK of the radio dial,” wrote Jeff. 

When Keri Tombazian was let go at KTWV he wrote about his colleague: “You will forever be my ‘Groove Girl.’ The fact that I had to share you with millions of other listeners doesn't bother me at all. I know you were speaking only to me every night at ‘the WAVE.’ Your next gig will be even more exciting and satisfying.” 

Jeff was always introspective about his life. He truly cared for those around him. He wrote me a personal note recently: “Except for the not so far away memories of falling in love, the birth and the blessing of children into one's life and military service, the unexpected ‘third act career’ as a Los Angeles Radio Airborne Reporter has brought to me more joy and peace than few other moments. You and I have shared a few good tears together about similar paths that we've walked down and I suspect there might be a few more as we advance. I never, in a gazillion years, thought I would ever see my name mentioned but you documented what we were all doing out here. All of us owe you much. My son thinks I'm an ok guy. We talk a lot now thanks to you. With my lack of experience in radio, you helped in very subtle, wise ways and I've done quite well. Thanks to you.” 

Jeff spoke before Mike Sakellarides' class about an industry news boot camp for ‘LARPs to Be.’  “One of the experts, Jeff Baugh, just spoke to my ‘Traffic Reporting’ class at Fullerton College and he was most candid, provocative, and uplifting. Jeff played airchecks including his award-winning coverage of the 2005 Metrolink crash in Glendale, as well as the Malibu fires and routine traffic reports.  

Equally important, and with great humility, he inspired the students, telling them not to be discouraged by the current employment picture. There will be growth again; so be ready for it.  

Jeff implored the class to embrace the changes in the industry and to learn as much new technology as they can. Particularly editing skills.  

He concluded that these are exciting times, and with hard work and passion today’s students can participate in the dramatic evolution of radio, television, and all the new media burgeoning.  

After Jeff left, students remarked, 'he's nice, he's great, this is one of the best classes I've had here.' He cares, too, leaving his email and phone for the students to reach him."