Toast of the Town : Jeffrey Chess Was Shy and Withdrawn Due to Impaired Hearing, but Toastmasters Helped Him Become an Inspiration

Jeffrey Chess spent his childhood in silence, hearing little more than the shrill sirens of passing firetrucks.

Born with a hereditary hearing defect, his words came out awkwardly and were met with painful ridicule from classmates.

“I was made fun of because I spoke differently,” Chess said. “When I was between 10 and 12 years old, I didn’t pick up sounds normal people could. Over the years as a child, I didn’t have a lot of friends, and I tended to withdraw from social life.”

The little boy who struggled with words is now making dynamic speeches before large and appreciative audiences.

Chess, 36, of Irvine, has become the district governor of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organization based in Rancho Santa Margarita whose members strive to develop their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.

Founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley, who held the club’s first meeting in the basement of the Santa Ana YMCA, Toastmasters now has more than 8,000 clubs and over 170,000 members in 71 countries.

Colleagues say Chess, who oversees 185 clubs in Orange County and part of Los Angeles recognized as the founder’s district, is an inspiration.

“Jeffrey is the glue that holds our club together as well as the district,” said fellow club member Ed Dean of Fullerton.

Added Maryann Lawrence, an area governor who oversees six clubs in north Orange County: “He’s a very good teacher and an inspiration to us. He’s pushed me to keep growing.”

A native of Detroit, Chess has come a long way since attending a special school for children with hearing disabilities. By the third grade, he started spending time in a regular classroom. In 1981, he and his family moved to Escondido and Chess went to San Diego State University.

There, Chess took a friend’s advice and attended his first Toastmasters meeting during his senior year, 1983. Chess remembers how uncomfortable he was, giving a 30-second guest comment.

“I was so shy,” Chess said. “When it was my turn to talk, I looked up at the wall.”

Early in his Toastmasters membership, Chess tried to avoid lengthy speeches by anxiously rushing through them. But now he speaks with clarity and is more relaxed while speaking.

Chess can hear with the assistance of hearing aids in both ears and after years of speech therapy and membership at Toastmasters, he can speak eloquently. It took time, but public speaking conquered his shyness.

“It helped me tremendously,” he said. “What I enjoy most about Toastmasters is that I’m surrounded by wonderful, caring people.”

He graduated from San Diego State with a degree in business administration, but even with a degree and a B average, he said his hearing difficulty at first gave him trouble finding a job. He kept going to Toastmasters meetings to improve his communication skills.

By 1990, Chess, who works as an auditor at Fluor Daniel, won a Distinguished Toastmaster Award for his service in the organization. It is the Toastmasters’ highest honor and an accomplishment only one-half of 1% of all international members achieve.

Chess is also a volunteer with the Orange County chapter of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People.

He praises his parents for their support and for helping shield him in childhood from much of the hostility that had surrounded him. And he also attributes his success to Toastmasters members who make him realize his talents as a speaker and as a leader.

Hank Kunkel, immediate past district governor, has worked with Chess for nearly seven years and is now his advisor and chairman of the nominating committee for administrative positions and district officers.

“I admire his persistence in an oral communication organization in spite of his handicap,” Kunkel said. “He’s a good example for those who are impaired.”

Chess succeeded Kunkel as district governor last July. In addition to serving his role as district governor, he is also the communication liaison between his district and the world headquarters of Toastmasters in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The support he has received as a member, Chess has passed on to others.

“By doing the caring, sharing and encouragement, you can make the difference in people’s lives,” he said.