Jack M. Culpepper

Jack Culpepper III died December 30, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. He was born in Thomasville, Georgia on October 6, 1935. He graduated from Leon High School where he was a member of the marching band playing the snare drum. He later graduated from the University of Florida in history where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. From there he went on to continue his studies at Columbia University in New York City earning a PhD at the Russian Institute. He was captivated with the Russian language and focused his studies on medieval Russian history and became an expert in the language as well as the history. After receiving his PHD, he began teaching at St. Lawrence University in upstate New York. Jack loved the village of Canton where the University is located. He also taught classes at Columbia, taking the bus from Canton to New York City. He considered a position at the University of Chicago, but turned it down because he had come to love the students at St. Lawrence and the village of Canton. His lectures were attended by so many that there was not enough room in the classroom….many came who were not even registered for his class. But Jack kept the door open so that he could be heard by those sitting in the hallway. He spent the rest of his working life inspiring students and treating them as family. He helped numerous students who were facing the draft during the Vietnam War and found scholarships for those who faced money problems. He advocated for those pursuing graduate degrees. Many of the students have kept in touch with him throughout his life, and he also helped the children of his former students write papers on film. One of his students said recently that Jack’s influence had gone far beyond his students to their children and even grandchildren.

His academic interests included Greek mythology and culture. He loved film with a passion. He loved Shakespeare and Russian literature as well as the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. He also loved his family and was devoted to his siblings and their children and grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents Varina Bower Culpepper and Jack Culpepper. He was also predeceased by his stepmother Carol Joiner Culpepper and his brother James Albert Culpepper. He is survived by his sisters Mary Luce and Ambers Barry. He is survived also by his nieces Elizabeth Allan (Dan), Quincy Shiver, his nephews Jack Culpepper Alexander (Alison) Barry,Sterling Luce (Brandy) and his sister- in -law Kay Lamb Culpepper. He is also survived by his great nieces Charlotte Barry and Julia Eschenasy, Caroline Luce, and Sophie Allan and his great nephews Parker Luce, Matthew Shiver, Nicholas Shiver, Luke Shiver, Jacob Shiver, and Gryffin Allan, Sophie’s twin.

Jack devoted his life to education. The family suggests that a loving tribute would be to encourage young people and returning adults to learn and follow their dreams. It could be a donation to a favorite scholarship, simply encouraging those who want to learn by mentoring or passing books along. Whether it is a children’s book for a new reader, a gardening book for a retiree or a movie that makes you think, anything that inspires excitement about learning would be a loving tribute to a man who inspired so many to learn and keep learning.

There will be a graveside service at Oakland Cemetery at 2 pm Wednesday January 4, 2017.