Remembering James S. Jackson, Ph.D. (1944 2020)

by Peter Lichtenberg, Ph.D.

JamesJacksondied peacefully on September 1 after an incredibly courageous battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He was the epitome of a Cancer Survivor, doing what he loved most--family and work -- until the very end of his life. He had innumerable achievements throughout his nearly 50-year career at the University of Michigan included serving as director of the Institute for Social Research and directing the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR) through 22 consecutive years of National Institute of Aging funding.

I wanted to share a little of whatJamesgave to me and to our Institute of Gerontology. When I took over as the acting director of the IOG in 1998,Jameswas the chair of our national steering committee. He was a phenomenal advisor and great supporter of our IOG and of me to the senior leadership of Wayne State University. He welcomed me into the co-director role of MCUAAAR, where we enjoyed a remarkable partnership. Although he was a national and international leader in the field, he entrusted me with equal responsibilities, from writing the grant to administering the budget. His warmth and caring about us all was another remarkable quality ofJames. 

The thing I loved most was listening toJameseither as he presented at national meetings or advising our MCUAAAR scientists at monthly meetings. He was a brilliant scholar, thinker and strategist. When I began working in financial decision-making I sought outJames, and he gave me the same kind of exceptional advising as he consistently did for his students and junior colleagues. 

What a privilege to know and work withJames. He was truly a great man. 

The New York Times obituary of Dr. Jackson is availabe.