Jacob "Jack" Jackson

Jacob “Jack” Jackson of Needham, on November 7, at age 61. Died peacefully surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous three year battle with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Beloved husband of Cynthia Lewiton Jackson. Loving father of Daniel and his wife Rebecca of Herndon, VA, Eric of Washington, DC, and Julie of Brighton, MA. Devoted son of Nina Jackson and the late Michael (Jakubowics) Jackson of Allentown, PA, loving brother of Renata Jackson of Winston-Salem, NC. Also survived by two beloved nieces, loving extended family and cherished friends.

Jack demonstrated incredible strength, courage, and grace in his battle against a devastating disease. A gifted writer who captured life’s nuances with keen insights and wry wit, Jack documented his journey via a powerfully uplifting blog. Through his writings, public speaking engagements, tireless advocacy for research funding, and stories in both print and broadcast media about his resilience and pioneering treatments as he defied medical odds, Jack provided inspiration and hope to countless followers around the world.

Jack was a former reporter for United Press International, medical writer and producer for the nationally syndicated show HealthBeat on WCVB-TV, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Shandwick International, and Founder and President of CommCentric Strategies and On-Message Public Relations. He was also a Communication Professor at Stonehill College, and a Director, Ethics Officer and past President of the Boston chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Jack received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, but was most proud when serving as teacher and mentor to innumerable PR professionals and also to Stonehill students, many of whom kept in touch well beyond graduation.

Jack received a B.S. in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of Beta Sigma Beta fraternity, an editor of The Daily Collegian newspaper, and a zealous Penn State football fan. Later, he earned his MBA with high honors from Boston University. Jack was also a political junkie, technology-geek, Star Trek and Beatles aficionado, and lover of arcane trivia which he relished sharing with his kids and their friends. But, Jack will be remembered most for his tremendous love of family, pride in his children, keen intellect, and ability to light up a room with laughter.

Funeral services will be held at Levine Chapel, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline on Monday, November 9 at 11:00 am, with interment to follow at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva will be held at his late residence on Monday evening from 7:00-9:00pm, and Tuesday through Thursday from 1:30-4:00pm, and 7:00–9:00pm, with minyan at 7:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack’s memory may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, www.pancan.org, or 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.