Jeffery L. King

In his favorite place in the world—the historic farmhouse he restored with the love of his life, Cindy—Jeffery Lynn King, age 80, died peacefully in his sleep on August 1st, 2025, after a long and heroically fought battle against cancer and heart disease.

Alternately and affectionately known as Jazzy Jeff, Kinger, Bird, the Mixie Man, Dad, and Grandpa, Jeff was larger than life to the many family, friends, and colleagues who were lucky enough to cross his orbit, from central Pennsylvania to the Gulf Coast of Florida. He was a brilliant businessman, consummate host, and committed philanthropist who was hopelessly devoted to the Phillies, “Iggles,” and the Penn State Nittany Lions. In his prime, he relished tinkering at his workbench, listening to classic rock music, playing games of Pepper or tennis in the backyard, clearing trails with his golden retrievers, fishing for Atlantic trout and Gulf Coast tarpon, and sharing a cold one with a loved one after a good, hard run on the beach. But in his whole, rich life, there was nothing he treasured more than his family, who loved and admired him more than words can express. Along with Cindy, Jeff leaves behind daughter Karilyn King of Malvern, PA; daughter Julie Borrelli and son-in-law Jason Borrelli of Malvern, PA; daughter Kelley Heyworth and son-in-law Ben Heyworth of Needham, MA; and grandchildren Drew Borrelli, Sophie Borrelli, Charlie Heyworth, Matthew Heyworth, and Thomas Heyworth.

Born to Evelyn “June” and John “Russ” King on April 4, 1945, Jeff grew up with brothers Max and Steve and sisters Kathy and Brenda in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Russ, a professional baker, instilled in him the value of hard work and commitment to family that would guide him for the rest of his life. Jeff attended Manheim Township High School, where he earned baseball, basketball, and football accolades as well as the affections of the cutest girl in school, Cindy McCormick. Jeff went on to play baseball for a year at Penn State before he and Cindy wed in 1965 and had Karilyn shortly after. Young fatherhood brought out the best in Jeff, who went on to make the Dean’s List as a marketing major, while Cindy typed his papers. He was forever indebted to his Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers, who helped care for Cindy and Karilyn as he worked part-time jobs, including shoveling coal under College Avenue, to make ends meet. Upon graduating in 1966, Jeff worked as a salesman for the Armstrong Cork Company before co-founding National Properties, Inc. in 1971. Over the next decade, Julie and Kelley were born and NPI flourished, as Jeff anticipated a growing demand for multi-family home living models where people could establish their families in close-knit communities in the leafy suburbs. Alongside his brother Steve, who Jeff recruited to run RPI, the construction side of the business, Jeff managed and developed 22 multifamily living complexes across Southeastern Pennsylvania before retiring in 2007.

As tirelessly as he worked to build his business, Jeff devoted even more energy to creating a home life for Cindy and his girls that he never dreamed could be possible when he was growing up in Lancaster. He served as president of the school parents’ association and board member of the Jenkins Arboretum, coached countless little league softball games, and alongside Steve, built a bayside cottage in Delaware where aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered to fish, pick blue crabs, play Pinochle and Bocce ball, watch fireworks, and sing along to Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, and America. Later, friends and family would gather in homes in Avalon, New Jersey, Boca Grande, Florida, and Malvern, Pennsylvania, where Jeff and Cindy restored a Revolutionary War-era home and barn on the outskirts of Valley Forge National Historic Park. This is where Jeff lived out his final days: watching deer and foxes roam outside his window and the NFL-champion Eagles and Fightin’ Phils on TV, Cindy always by his side.

Along with his real estate acumen and community spirit, what distinguished Jeff was a generosity that seemed to know no bounds. He believed there was no wiser investment than one in a person with vision and ambition, and over the years, he helped friends and loved ones chase their own entrepreneurial passions, from rock bands to comedy clubs. Giving back to the organizations that helped nurture his family or lay the groundwork for his career path was also central to his core values. In 1999, he established the King Family Foundation, with a mission to fund causes that serve the unique needs of individuals facing social, emotional, or physical challenges. The foundation’s gifts to Jeff’s alma mater, Penn State, included support of anti-bullying research and initiatives, along with early career professorships and library preservation. In recent years, Jeff and the King Family Foundation focused its philanthropy on medical research. With his daughters and doctors, he fought to bring more awareness to Lynch Syndrome, the hereditary cancer syndrome that affected Jeff as well as several members of the extended King family, and founded the King Center for Lynch Syndrome at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Jeff’s loved ones will spend the rest of their lives swapping memories of him as a visionary business leader, loyal and generous friend, and adoring husband, father, and grandfather. He was a King in every sense of the word.

On Saturday, August 9th, friends and family are welcome to celebrate Jeff’s life at the Waynesborough Country Club at 440 Darby Paoli Road in Paoli, PA. Family will receive friends starting at 11:30 AM and share remembrances and lunch at 12:30 PM. Instead of flowers, contributions in Jeff’s memory can be made to the King Center for Lynch Syndrome at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center. Make a secure gift online or make checks payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania” and mailed to Penn Medicine Development, Attn: Kathleen Hertkorn, 3535 Market St., Ste. 750, Philadelphia, PA, 19104. Please include "King Center for Lynch Syndrome Research Term Fund" on the memo line