Donald Jackson's Obituary
Golf, gospel music, the Air Force, Golf, deviled eggs so good they would make you want to slap somebody, more Golf, and a Kanga ALWAYS worn turned backwards. And Golf. Consider these as some of the unmistakable trademarks of Don Jackson (you probably knew him as “High Pockets, I’m so Fine, the Unofficial Mayor of Jack London Square, or Mr. Jackson), who transitioned to eternal life on Monday, September 15, 2014. His free spirit and twisted sense of humor is carried on by his four children, his five grandchildren, and an extended family of his “knuckleheaded golf partners,” and friends from every walk of life.
If you looked up the word “cool” in the dictionary, you might find Don’s picture there. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Don during his 79 years. Among them: there are actually people who can watch the “Golf Channel” non-stop and stay awake; Gospel music really does enrich the soul; the Air Force was one helluva career; his award-winning deviled eggs contained just one secret ingredient; and you can sneak from one movie to another simply by turning your cap around backwards (ok, that one isn’t exactly foolproof).
Don was someone who should have lived forever, because his entire life was all about beating the odds: Unknown to most who knew him, Don was abandoned as a toddler, and grew up in foster care in Bethesda, Maryland and Rome, New York. At that time, families took in foster children primarily as extra hands to work the farms. As Don would later recall, “We were provided with basic needs, but there was no love or affection. We were there to work.” He experienced the Great Depression, Jim Crow, multiple wars, Civil Rights, the birth of Rock & Roll, and Disco. No doubt his coming of age during that time was a key factor in his tendency to look every person he encountered directly in the eye and announce with conviction, “HOW ARE YOU?” And if you were the subject of this greeting, you felt compelled to respond (almost out of fear that he might ask you again!) He witnessed 13 presidential administrations, beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt, and ending with Barack Obama (whose two winning elections convinced Don that “not everyone in America is stupid.”)
During an esteemed Air Force career that spanned 25 years, some of his most memorable years were spent in Taipei, Taiwan, where he and his young family formed lifelong friendships with other young military families. It was there that he and four of his military buddies formed the singing group “The Satellites,” and he christened himself “The Pretty One.” They performed all over Southeast Asia, often accompanied by the Philippine Famous Orchestra & Singers, and even performed for Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek in honor of his 73rd birthday.
Don met every challenge as an opportunity, and dared anyone to try to keep him from accomplishing his goals. He was named “Outstanding Airman of the Year” three times; named “Senior NCO of the Year”; started the first NAACP chapter in Great Falls, Montana; established the first Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in Plattsburgh, NY; received multiple Commendation Medals for Meritorious Service; was appointed “First Sergeant,” and retired from Travis Air Force Base with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He followed his military career with two additional retirements: from the Oakland Public Schools after 8 years as Director of Maintenance, and then from EBMUD, after 16 years as Manager of Pipeline Construction. All this work served to pave the way for his true passion: Golf. Oh yeah…he also took flying lessons, but golf and flying lessons are expensive hobbies. So alas, the flying lessons got kicked to the curb.
Don loved to make up words. When he proudly proclaimed “I AM Wahtosh!”, even though you had no clue what “Wahtosh” meant, you knew it stood for “I am THE Man!” He also loved his baked goods, Sees Candy, and fresh fruit. And he cared, truly cared, about others and the community. He served on multiple Boards throughout the Bay Area over the years, and was a popular patron of the plethora of events, businesses, and restaurants in Oakland and Jack London Square. Because of his unique life story, Don’s youngest daughter connected him to a highly-regarded program called “Challenges & Possibilities” at Green Bay State Correctional Institute, a maximum security prison in Green Bay, Wisconsin. For the past ten years, Don has been a regular speaker twice a year at the prison, sharing his life story and encouraging the inmates to make the right decisions and choices despite their backgrounds and upbringings. He has become a legend at the prison, and is affectionately known as “The old school dude.”
Above all, Don had the ability to earn the respect of complete strangers without even opening his mouth, and that respect grew as people came to know him. Once, as he was walking down a street in his beloved neighborhood of Jack London Square with his two daughters and their husbands, they heard a voice behind them yelling, “Don Jackson! Is that you?” They turned to see a man running toward them with a fork in his hand and a napkin tucked in his collar. As he approached, he explained that he was having breakfast with his family, saw us walk by through the restaurant window, and just had to say “hello to Don Jackson.” And that was the essence of Don Jackson — he was one cool dude, the world’s best Dad, best friend and true sweetheart to Stephanie, and a remarkable friend. No doubt those of us who had the honor and pleasure to know him will smile whenever we think of him. So if you see a whole bunch of smiling folks walking around the Bay Area, you’ll know why.
And all that Golf paid off. Don has bragging rights for achieving TWO HOLES IN ONE, and is likely “talkin’ trash and tellin’ lies” to some kindred spirits right now.
Don is survived by his four children and grandchildren whose photos adorn the walls of his home: Tony, Sherry (husband Mark and son, Jeridan), CJ (husband Dennis), and Dwayne (children Reid, McKenna, Delaney, and Baylie). Sherry and CJ will especially miss his weekly calls that began with “Hello my lovely daughter!” He is also survived by his special lady friend, Stephanie Lee, his golf partners and many friends too numerous to mention but not forgotten.
A celebration of Don’s life with full military honors will take place on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, at 11:00am at Chapel of the Chimes located at 4499 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to “The Don Jackson Education Fund,” so that his legacy of giving back to the community can continue. The family also asks that everyone feel free to wear a kanga or other cap turned around backwards in honor of Don.
A private inurnment at Dixon Veterans Memorial Cemetery will take place at a later date.
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