Dr. John Jackson

Obituary of Dr. John Jackson

Beloved professor, husband, friend, and companion, John Jackson died on November 27th in Brockville after a brief illness. Born in 1932 in Ville Saint Laurent, John had an active and happy childhood. As a boy he joined the YMCA, and the communal ethos of the Y would inform his volunteer work, his academic career, and his pedagogical practices throughout his life. John took his first degree at Sir George Williams University- itself an outgrowth of the YMCA, and then earned the MA and PhD at Michigan State University. His research with W. Lloyd Warner inspired his thesis on Franco Ontarians, and his subsequent book Community and Conflict. Among those who heard his first academic paper in 1966 were Hubert Guindon and Kurt Jonassohn. Soon after, they offered him a position in the Department of Sociology at Sir George (now Concordia) where he remained until retirement in 2000, teaching courses in community, urban, cultural, and media studies, and serving terms as Chair and Graduate Director. A generous colleague, accomplished mentor, and superb listener, John’s students declared that he recognized their potential, and empowered them to reach their goals. In 1978, John co-founded the Concordia Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism Studies to pursue research on Canadian society including the golden age of CBC’s radio drama. He shared his research in multiple academic articles, speciality books and a widely used textbook, Mediated Society, co-authored with colleagues at the Centre. His ongoing service to the discipline of Sociology led to positions as Editor of the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology and President of the Canadian Association of Sociology and Anthropology.. In the late 1960s, he and his wife Elva, bought a house in Snow Road Station where they moved upon his retirement. They became active members of the community and of the local NDP, taking up their earlier activism in the CCF. John served as a Board member of the Northern Frontenac Community Centre, earning an honorary life membership. For sheer enjoyment he became a skilled wood carver. John’s beloved wife, Elva, predeceased him in 2009. He will be sadly missed by his aunt Mary Louise DeWitt, his cousins Christina Norton, Linda Stephenson, and Geoff Davies and Diane Davies, the Badger family and grateful former students. Eleven years ago he and Marilyn Buffam met, and provided each other with happy companionship and support for the rest of his life. John will be remembered for his wisdom and many acts of kindness. In his memory contributions may be made to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. The Funeral Service for John will be held in the Chapel on Sunday December 12, 2021 at 1:30pm. Interment to follow at the Brockville Cemetery. The family has chosen to have full capacity for the service. For those who will be attending, proof of double vaccination will be required along with the proper identification.
Sunday
12
December

Funeral Service

1:30 pm
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Barclay Funeral Home - Brockville
137 Pearl Street East
Brockville, Ontario, Ontario, Canada
(613) 342-2792
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