Jefferson Hoy Tyler

Dr. Jefferson Hoy Tyler passed away in his sleep on May 1, 2026, in Florida. Jeff was part of AdventHealth Orlando's inaugural anesthesiology residency class. He was 32 years old.

Jeff was born on October 18, 1993, to Judy (née Hoy) and Matthew Tyler in Pasadena, California. He is the eldest of three sons. Brothers Samuel (Sam) and Quentin (Q) followed at three-year intervals. He was a devoted big brother, and Sam and Q were his lifelong best friends. With Sam’s marriage to Rachel, Jeff gained not only a sister-in-law but also the sister he always wanted.

As an infant, Jeff moved with his parents to Switzerland, where his dad was pursuing his doctoral degree. From his time in Switzerland as a toddler, Jeff developed a lifelong love of trains. He referred to these early years away from family as the “just the three of us time.” He was a doting, loving, and beloved son.

From ages 3 to 11, Jeff lived with his parents and brothers in the suburbs of New York City before he and his family moved to Salt Lake City, where he spent his teenage years. As a preschooler, he idolized the Yankees’ young star Derek Jeter, and while he always cheered for the home team wherever he lived, he never outgrew his love for the Yankees or any of his other childhood passions. What he loved, he loved with his whole heart and whole life: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Legos, NASA, Apollo 13, attending sporting events with his brothers and dad, airplanes, true crime shows, Law and Order TV episodes, and more. He enjoyed reading, watching, and listening to the stories he loved over and over and over.

Jeff was a joyful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in Arcadia, California, speaking Armenian. With an Armenian uncle by marriage, he was thrilled to serve in this capacity and to meet his uncle’s Armenian-born family, truly charming their father by being his authentic self.

His original career ambition was to become a research chemist. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Brigham Young University and a Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Stanford University. While helping to care for his hospitalized grandmother, he discovered a passion for caring for the sick and decided to pivot to a career in medicine. He graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2024 and, after a one-year medical internship in Las Cruces, New Mexico, began his anesthesia residency in Orlando, Florida, in 2025.

He married Mary Sargent for time and all eternity in the St. Louis Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on February 26, 2022. Jeff loved many people, interests, and things with his whole being, but Mary eclipsed them all. Nothing brought him more happiness than finding interesting facts, great restaurants, funny videos, beautiful sights, or new documentaries to share with her. Their four-year marriage was busy with medical school, residency applications, intern year, anesthesia residency, and two cross-country moves, but they were the happiest years of both their lives. Despite his busy schedule, he always made time for Mary — matching her passion for the lab (as he matched her passion for everything) and helping her complete her training to become a medical laboratory scientist.

Jeff was very excited to start his career with Mary side by side. They were true partners, both working at the same hospital and spending their free time watching documentaries, cooking together, and sharing their love of life and love of everything else – from history to space exploration. They had the same favorite astronaut (Jim Lovell) and shared many favorite topics: the sinking of the Titanic, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations, and trains. The day after Jeff died, he and Mary had been planning to depart on their first overseas trip together – traveling by train in Scotland.

Members of his residency cohort say his dedication and intelligence were unmatched. Jeff would quickly step in to cover an unfilled shift or come to someone’s aid. He loved caring for transplant patients and being part of the team trusted with a donor’s sacred gift.

Jeff was a man who could talk about anything. Medicine, of course. But also politics, faith, current events, sports, and any of his many passions. He was an easy and authentic conversationalist who enjoyed going along for the ride, wherever the discussion led. He gave not just his time, but also his heart in his gifts. He was kind and funny and passionate and quirky and generous and authentic and good. All these qualities made him an excellent husband, son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, and friend. He loved deeply and was loved deeply.

Jeff found great joy in being an uncle. Becoming an uncle to Mary’s nephews and nieces (Grant, Ross, and Saundra Pohlsander and Sophie and Stella Wing) and spending time with them highlighted Sargent family get-togethers. His first time holding Sam and Rachel’s babies (Olive and August Tyler) as newborns formed treasured memories for him and his family. His nephews and nieces all loved their Uncle Jeffy.

He is survived by his adoring and adored wife, Mary, of Orlando, Florida; his grandfather, Dennis Hoy, of Arcadia, California; his parents, Matthew and Judy Tyler; and his brothers, Samuel (Rachel) and Quentin Tyler, each of Salt Lake City. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lamont and Carol Tyler, and his maternal grandmother, Sue Frye. His in-laws, Dale Sargent and Ann Lewis of Grand Junction, Colorado; Emily (Boyd) Pohlsander of Millcreek, Utah; and Anna (Spencer) Wing of St. Charles, Missouri, deeply mourn his loss, as do numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues, and associates.

A visitation for friends, family, and colleagues to share their love of Jeff will be Saturday, May 9, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Winter Park chapel, 45 E. Par Street, Orlando, FL.

A second visitation will take place at Larkin Funeral Home, 260 E. South Temple Street in Salt Lake City, UT, on Tuesday, May 12, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 11 a.m. at the Ensign Stake Center, 135 A Street, Salt Lake City, UT. Burial will follow in Salt Lake City Cemetery.

For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please click on the watch services link above.

In honor and memory of Jeff’s generosity and love, please consider registering as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.net.