Jacqueline Foster Peck

Jacqueline Foster Peck, 94, passed away after a brief illness on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at Touro Infirmary Hospital in New Orleans. Her son, Stewart, and daughter, Stacy, were at her side. Jackie, ever a proud Capricorn, would have been 95 on Christmas Eve.

Born in Akron, Ohio, on Dec. 24, 1926, Jackie was the only child of Harry and Grace Foster. She was the apple of her maternal grandfather Ashling’s eye, and spent her summers with his large family in Greenfield, Ohio. Her father was a self-made man who rose to become Executive Treasurer of the B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company.

Jackie grew up in Akron and attended Marietta College in Ohio before marrying, having two children and moving to Springfield, Ohio, and then Louisville, Kentucky. She later moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio, to be near her parents and raise her two children. She lived in the same neighborhood there for 60 years. Her outgoing personality and keen sense of humor made her an instant success in retailing. She managed the book departments at both Halle’s and May Company department stores for years, where she arranged book signings and met many top authors of the day, from Liberace (who told her he loved her hair) to Tony Bennett. She drew young customers to her not only for her perceptive book recommendations, but also as a sought-after confidante and friend. Her circle of acquaintances was large and varied, and her lifelong friends ranged from childhood schoolmates to colleagues to neighbors and fellow sports enthusiasts. Jackie loved the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints, but was happiest at Cleveland Indians games, which she attended well past her 90th birthday. One season, she watched all 162 Indians games on TV, often staying up until all hours of the morning.

In 2020, Jackie moved to Poydras Home in New Orleans to be near her son. But her many friends remained active in her life, offering countless packages and phone calls that kept her strong ties to Cleveland vibrant and alive. She loved Sunday wheelchair jaunts around Audubon Park with Stewart, and thrice daily chats with Stacy in San Francisco. And her astute memory, sharp wit and ability to recount funny family anecdotes charmed all around her.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Grace Foster. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Stewart Foster Peck and Renee Peck, of New Orleans; her daughter, Stacy Peck Soderborg of San Francisco; her grandchildren, Erica Soderborg Lance [Matt] of San Francisco, Megan Peck Walther [Kyle] of Denver, Christina Foster Peck Samuels [Armand] of New Orleans, Katherine Peck Martin [Matthew] of Brooklyn; and four great-grandchildren, Penn Foster and Holden Samuels and Blake and August Walther.

A memorial service will take place at a later date in Akron, Ohio. New Orleans arrangements are still being planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Orleans non-profit NolaVie (1215 7th Street, New Orleans, LA 70115, or online at vianolavie.org), a digital magazine and educational partner to Tulane University that Jackie took a lively interest in.

Jackie’s wide smile, charismatic personality and sharp mind will be remembered, and held in the hearts, of all of those who knew her.