Her first project referral to me was a packaging job with an eccentric young guy in Burlingame. He had created a radio-controlled model airplane made entirely out of corrugated cardboard, and he needed some graphics help. I was to meet Jef at his home in Brisbane. He wore wrinkled khaki pants that coordinated nicely with his furry house slippers and print pajama top.

As I worked on the cardboard package at Jef’s house for a few weeks, I saw the many sides of him. Neighborhood kids came in for music lessons, his radio-controlled glider club, and a magic lesson or two. Jef even had an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art showcasing the corrugated cardboard building blocks that he designed.

Finally the packaging project was finished, and as we said our good-byes, Jef asked if I wanted to come work with him in Cupertino. He had a couple of friends who were building computers and he needed a graphic designer on his team.

I lived two hours away from Cupertino, and without asking the smart questions I should have, I declined. And with that, I shrugged off the opportunity to follow Jef to his next project.