W. Jack McBride, HL class of 1990.
We are saddened by the recent loss of our dear friend W. Jack McBride who passed away 12/17/07, but celebrate all that he has meant to HL and the entire community.
We will miss his charm, wit, commitment and leadership.
Please take a few minutes to post your memories of Jack on our HLAA Blog. He will be greatly missed.
CUBE Playground Build
Jack, Linda & Julie at the CUBE playground during the summer of 2007.
11 comments:
Being in the first HL class (1986) I had an opportunity to work alongside Jack as the program was growing from its infancy to one of maturity and excellence, thanks to Jack's leadership. He served as a coach and mentor to me and one of the best role models I will ever have. I admire his charm and patience and his gentle caring spirit. Jeannine Clark
I only interacted with Jack a handful of times, but he always knew my name. Of all the people he knew, all the people he continually met, he still remembered me. He was one of those gentlemen whose picture should be beside the term, "neat guy". He was neat, and his loss is profound.
Jack was such a lover of the arts - all arts! He and Betty never missed a Curtain Raisers event in all the sever years I have been involved as a Curtain Raisers Board Member. He loved meeting the cast and crew each year of SummerStock and supported the academic year program just as strongly. He will be so greatly missed in the audience but I know he will be looking down from above and applauding as usual!
Jeanne Rustic
I had the rare and incredible fortune of spending 14 days with Jack and Betty on a group trip to Sicily. During that time, I got to know the remarkable, full-of-life, human being that was Jack McBride. Just as we "younger" folk began complaining about our aches from riding in the tour bus, Jack would break into song from some Italian Opera and we would all immediately remember why we were there - to have fun and enjoy eachother's company. Jack, my memory of you will always make me smile! Gary Bright
Jack typified the essential "servant-leader." Having the privilege of being in one of the early HL classes that he facilitated was a formative force in my life as a young adult. I will always be grateful for his influence. His fingerprint of excellence is also evident at The University of Findlay in the programs he helped to establish and support. He was such a treasure in our community. I will miss his firm handshake and gracious way!
Anne Risser Lee
Jack always had a smile and remembered your name and events. He welcomed you with a hand shake or a hug. He was a gentle man who was a gentlemen!! I am honored to have known him and cherish the legacy of his memory in our community.
Suzie Tooman
I have so many great memories of Jack, but my favorites have been the most recent: him coming out to sit and watch us build the playground at the CUBE, insisting that I drive his Prius around the parking lot, telling me that starting Hancock Leadership was one of the things in life of which he was most proud. He came to visit me right after I started my new job for the hospital-- to offer congratulations and ideas he had for Hancock Leadership. He said he couldn't stay long because Betty kept a pretty close eye on him, and he hadn't mentioned he was stopping by to see me. Sorry Betty! Hope you weren't worried, but it was a visit I'll always cherish. Thank God for Jack McBride!
Jack literally changed my life.
When he recruited me to be the next director of HL, little did either of us know that I would meet my husband through another member in my Class of '90. After spending thirty years in my education cacoon, not only was I able to interact with all the Movers and Shakers in our community but I also met and came to love over 300 of the most exciting, innovative, and fun-loving community trustees and future leaders. Thanks to Jack's sharing five years of his life to developing Hancock Leadership, our community of Findlay and Hancock County (and all the other locations to which HL grads have moved)we have a community envied by those around us.
Carol Dale-Joseph, Director '91-'00
I had the pleasure of working with Jack for almost 11 years. He was a leaders leader....a consummate professional and a true gentleman.
Lee Luff, Class '87
Jack McBride was a recent addition to my life. When I accepted the Hancock Leadership interim director position in September, Jack came to visit me and share his dreams for Hancock Leadership. In the months that followed Jack came to watch Hancock Leadership ’07 build the All-Star Playground and was there for the ribbon cutting. Through lots of laughter, he taught both Linda DeArment and me how to drive his Prius.
I had several opportunities to talk in depth with Jack and he always recounted his love for his wife, Betty, who he called his best friend; he proudly shared recent successes of his children and grandchildren, and his loyalty to the University of Findlay and Hancock Leadership.
The last time Jack called me he wanted to talk about the role of American education in a global economy. Until the very end, Jack was forward-thinking and concerned about others far more than himself. Jack also was first and foremost a teacher. During that last talk, Jack wanted to discuss a decision made by the Findlay City School board of education, a decision that he did not completely support. Rather than debate the merits of the decision, Jack simply asked me to answer the following questions: “What information might have helped you make a better decision? Did you do enough research to secure that information? What improvements could you make in the decision-making process if you were faced with a similar situation?” Jack, the consummate teacher, shared a wonderful going away gift with me as he taught me a powerful lesson during our last conversation.
In summary, Jack only briefly touched my life but I feel blessed on many levels by his kindness, his teachings, and his personal support. I would like to borrow the words of Emerson to elucidate the life of a great man who walked among us:
“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."
--Julie Brown
Thank you all so very much for appreciating my Daddy! I know that he loved every one of you, as well, and enjoyed sharing himself. He was always one of the Great Men in this world. I am honored to be able to call him Dad! Linda Cervi
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