How about this: rather than bug Jeff or another administrator, just do this: Since you say you haven't posted there in ages, perhaps they drop innactive accounts ("pruning") now and then. There was too many innactive accounts, so, as I recall, there became a rule that persons must post now and then (I forget the specifics) in order to remain "active". This was because there were page after page of person who had perhaps posted only once, or never at all, yet remained on the rolls for years.
So rather than bog down the administrators to explain all this, or see about some-how reactivating your old name, just simply go to the beginner's page (which is open to all), and simply choose a new name and password. Like maybe do "Gregory1" instead of "Gregory", or some such minor variation that allows you to just start over with a new name & password.