He grew up in Williamsburg with his sisters Ruthie and Annette, in modest but love-filled surroundings, sleeping in a shared bed with his brother Lenny. Jack was a boy scout who sold newspapers on the street to help out his family.
Their lives embody the American Dream. Celia grew up in what is now the Tenement Museum; her mother had been the first woman in her neighborhood to vote, thus Celia was a strong woman who raised forward thinking and well grounded individuals.
Attending NYU on scholarship while working full time at night, Jack maintained high grades. He was involved with the school newspaper and president of The Outdoors Club. He graduated with distinction as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
He maintained those affiliations through life, serving as President of the NYU Washington Square Alumni Association and President of the Phi Beta Kappa Society of New York State, member of the Founder's Guild.
At NYU he made the acquaintance of classmate Ruth Stein who was to become the love, partner and focus of his life. Their romance blossomed while he was on leave from Fort Dix and by their fourth date both of them knew that "it was it".
They married in January 1954 and raised four future helicopter daughters (Edith, Sarah, Johanna and Martha) in a joyfully tumultuous Brooklyn home filled with family, dogs, and friends from Ahavath Israel which was one block away.
Jack was a Cohen in every sense of the word. He was always ready to join a minyan. He and Ruth were observant of the laws of Judaism, active members of their synagogues, with open hands for every charity.
While working in his late 40's as a senior executive of NY Telephone, then facing divestiture, Jack attended Brooklyn Law School where he graduated as a member of The Moot Court Honor Society and an author of Law Review on the subject of Anti Trust Regulations. His boss at the time, Emery Westfall, noted that he hired Jack for that position because when asked why he was best suited for it, Jack's two word answer was "total recall"
He was smarter than the average human even as age was fading his acuity.
Jack enjoyed a quiet moment with his pipe and a newspaper. His hobbies included woodworking, model and full size railroads. He and Ruth shared the love of their boats and both became accomplished solar and celestial navigators, teaching water safety courses as officers of The Brooklyn Power Squadron where they held respectively the position of Commander. He remained a member of their National Board. He was always hardworking, colegial and "the strong right hand"
His causes included;
The Garden State Train Club
The County Board of Elections
Marlboro Township Historic Commission
The Open Space Committee
Friends of The Public library
The Monmouth Museum
He is survived by his wife, the "light of his life", Ruth. His sisters (Ruthie and Annette), his 4 daughters (Edith , Sarah, Johanna, Martha) , son-in-laws (Steven and Guido) 8 grandchildren, (Lauren Jordanna, Daniel, Jessica, Lani, Ari, Molly, Lucas)
and 4 great grandchildren (Samantha, Maxson, Liam, and Bennett).
Donations are invited in his memory to the Deborah Heart and Lung Center, or the charity of your choice.
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