Donald Henry Jackson Jr.

He was born January 10, 1940, in Williamsport, PA, the son of Donald Jackson, Sr. and Gladys (Murray)

Jackson. He graduated from Williamsport High School, Class of ‘57. He was an Eagle Scout, a trombone player in a jazz band, and a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. After teaching music for several years, he enrolled in the upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY and graduated in 1969. After a residency in Internal Medicine and a 2 year tour in the U.S. Army Medical Corp at Tripler Army Medical Center, he joined the faculty at the University of Rochester as an Assistant Professor of Medicine. He practiced cardiology in Rochester, NY, Memphis, TN, St. Louis, MO and Topeka, KS. He taught Sunday School at church, supported choir and youth group activities, started a jazz band in the church, led the family in prayer before dinner and supported missionaries around the world.

He loved to travel, cross-country ski, and hike. He enjoyed backpacking in Northern California, Hawaii, Alaska, Peru, Ecuador and in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. He also enjoyed safaris and expeditions in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Costa Rica, Belize, and the Galapagos. He climbed to the summit of Longs Peak 5 times and he went on 13 African safaris. He was a phenomenal photographer and produced numerous books based on his travels. He had a wonderful sense of humor. While gentle and unassuming, he would take on nearly any challenge including white water rafting down the Grand Canyon, multiple national and international winter backpacking trips and ice climbing adventures up frozen cliffs and waterfalls. He also enjoyed family vacations in Ireland and Newfoundland. Estes Park, CO was his favorite vacation place and he visited there innumerable times over the last 35 years. He loved taking family and friends on his adventures, often introducing friends and family for the first time to backcountry adventures. His humble and gracious nature allowed even the novice to be at ease and fall in love with the woods.

Donald married the love of his life Carol (Anderson) Jackson of Rochester, NY, on a snowy January 28, 1961, at North Baptist Church in Rochester. He is survived by his son David Jackson and Stacy Jackson, his grandsons Henry Jackson and Evan Jackson, his daughter Laurie Hendren and Steve Farrell, his brother Fred Jackson and Beverly Jackson. His wife Carol passed away November 9, 2022, just 10 weeks earlier.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Carol Jackson, his parents, Donald Jackson, Sr and Gladys Jackson.