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DARRELL JENKS Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for DARRELL JENKS
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Marc Nicholson
August 1, 2023
This message is overdue. Darrell died over a decade ago--a tragic death at a young age--and I never have forgotten him. He stands as evidence to me of how cruel and random fate can be when it exacts a grievous price
But his was a glorious life while it lasted. I knew him when Darrell was a US Foreign Service Officer (i.e. diplomat) serving in Brasilia, and I was his supervisor for a year or so, after which he succeeded me when I retired.
Darrell was a friend to all, but he was most exceptional because he held two contrary instincts in a remarkably creative tension. He was a graduate of Reed College in Portland, OR, and if you know about Reed, you know it is an incubator of creative (even odd) but brilliant students who follow their own stars. Darrell exemplified that. And yet he combined that creativity with the discipline to work productively within a sometimes stodgy institution like the US State Department and America's diplomatic service. I marveled at how he held those two elements in creative tension. He truly was one of a kind, and I deeply regret that his life by pure bad luck of the draw was curtailed too soon. I myself now am 73, and it is more than 20 years past our association, but I will never forget Darrell and the wondrous human being he was.
CDR Asa Kim, USN
July 31, 2023
I was very fortunate to have met Darrell when I was a Lieutenant, stationed in Yokohama, Japan as the Negishi Officer in Charge (OIC) back in 2010 to 2012. It just so happened that Darrell and Thelma were just down the street from us at FSI Yokohama and they were my first exposure to the State Department and the Foreign Service. He was a great friend and I will never forget the adventures we went on throughout Japan, touring the COSPLAY and Manga conventions that only he could find.
He was a great friend and just generally an awesome person and he is missed.
Michael M Heydari
May 11, 2023
I will never forget Darrell as a friend and a mentor.
jose j dangond from Colombia
September 14, 2021
many years looking for Darrel, What sad news, my friend is not with us any more.
My condolences to Telma and sons.
We used to travel together during our stays as consul in Maracaibo.
I would like to send some pictures together.
Basil Berchekas
May 11, 2019
Dr. Jenks was the MOST professional and also most courteous supervisor I've ever worked for in a stressful environment. He is to be "saluted" forever! A FINE civilian government employee who blended well with both civilian and military personnel.
Thomas Hutson
May 11, 2019
In 1986-87, It was with awe and affection that our Chinese Mandarin class at Yangmingshan watched Darrell Jenks whiz through that challenging language. Just as Japanese and Korean became his own tongues. And, it is with pride and warm memories of Darrell and Thelma that those halcyon years are recalled.
1995 Washington
October 20, 2017
Washinton 1995
October 20, 2017
1991.7.1. ALAS performence at U.S. Embassy in Beijing China
Rong Hua Huang (ALAS Bass Player)
October 20, 2017
DaYou, Remembering you the great time in Beijing with ALAS Jazz Band. I was so sorry to hear of your loss, You are always live in my hearts.
1991.7.1. Jazz performance at US Embassy in Beijing China
Rong Hua Huang (Bass Player)
October 20, 2017
Michael Heydari
October 26, 2014
I was lucky to meet Darrell in "Tallil", southern Iraq in 2008, where he was the PRT Team leader for Maysan. In 2011 I visited him in Lewisburg, PA where he took me for a tour of covered bridges along Susquehanna river. What a fine gentleman and a good friend. My friend Darrell, you are missed. I often remember your kind and gentle manners. You are living in my heart.
Sarah Okawa Ellerbrock
July 29, 2014
I had a pleasure of working with Darrell for the Symposium on Northeast Security (SNEAS) back in 2004 when I visited Beijing from Tokyo. I found him to be very warm, cordial and professional and a wonderful foreign service officer. I also heard he was very much liked by his colleagues in Yokohama, Japan. Not too long before Darrell left this world, he sent me a very thoughtful email to congratulate the birth of my first son. I only wish I could have worked with Darrell more. He is truly missed by many of us and will be fondly remembered.
Keith Curtis
December 15, 2013
A great friend, fascinating guy, wonderful mind and wonderful soul. I remember him climbing the trees of the Amazon like a monkey with a mind he had real joy and spirit. I am sure he is waiting for us in the next life! yea Darrell - wish we could have spent more time here with you, but there will be ages and ages to come..
Thomas Hutson
July 22, 2013
Just learned this very sad news. I knew Darrell only when we were studying Chinese Mandarin together in Washington and Taipei. He was so extraordinarily gifted as a linguist, so full of life as a human being, and so committed to his work that one can say he was doing just the right thing in life. He touched my life by his excellence and humanity, and even learning of his passing so belatedly, I felt I must add these few words of respect, admiration and sadness.
June 30, 2013
You were the best combination of a professional and personal "Universal Renaissance Man". I had the good fortune to work for you as a delegated MSG from the Corps of Engineers in Iraq on your Maysan province PRT.
bert curtis
June 30, 2013
I had recently arrived in Brasilia in the late 90's and was exploring the recreation area near the Embassy....there was this very young-looking young man in the pool and I could not figure out at first WHAT he was doing. Turns out it was Darrell, rehabbing an ankle injury by deep water running....After I introduced myself, he kindly explained the simple AquaJogger belt and technique he used. I think he did about an hour at a time to heal from that injury and get himself ready for his next adventure...and many others in the months to come Many years later, I am again heading to a neighborhood pool to work on my chronically troublesome ankles (made stronger by my daily efforts) to apply the ideas shared with me by this helpful stranger. It may seem an odd first memory, but to me it's emblematic of this man who did not ever feel sorry for himself, but just got things over with and got on with life!
Hirase Takeshi
June 30, 2013
Darrell-san, You was best friend of us in Japan . We never forget about you . Our hearts are with you and Thelma-san.
Linda Troutman, Snyder
June 29, 2013
I watched you grow up as my neighbor. Always knew there was something special about you. You lived an amazing life. Still pass the old homestead in Lewisburg Pa. Remembering the good old days. God Bless!
July 13, 2011, exactly two years ago, I believed that you would not fail to return here.
Toshihiko FUKUSHIMA
June 29, 2013
Nancy Cohen
June 15, 2012
Darrell did not go gently through life. He lived with gusto, joy, and wonder. Darrell's delight in learning and his eagerness for adventures was contagious. My sincere condolences to the family.
Elaine Chew
June 11, 2012
Darrell was my cousin, even though we did not keep in contact, I see all of his accomplishments and I am in awe. What an extraordinary person!!!!
Wendy Sneff
May 31, 2012
Thelma,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Darrell always dazzled us with his versatility in Korean -- he could pick up any language and make it seem easy! I remember his kindness also --and yours. You and your family always made us feel welcome in Seoul.
JOHN JYIGIOKK TIN
May 31, 2012
Dear Thelma and family, It was one of the most wonderful period of my life, although it was short, when Darrell enrolled into our Taiwanesee Language Course of Tainan Theological Seminary, while he served the AIT Kauhsiung Director. Firstly we were teacher ans student, later became good friends. Rev. Prof. Dr. John Jyigiokk Tin salutes, Friday, May 31, 2012
Francis Lau
May 26, 2012
Darrell, you are always my best friend.
Sylvia Bailey
May 24, 2012
Thelma, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Jenny (Austin) Donelan
May 23, 2012
I only knew Darrell during his last few months of high school (LAHS). I thought he was one of the most amazing people I'd ever met. Forty years later, I still think so. As a teenager I thought it was all about being cynical, bored, and aloof. Darrell turned all that on its head with his curiosity, his enthusiasm, his genuine interest in the littlest things. He even made high school marching band seem like a great adventure. I tried to emulate his great spirit, with varying degrees of success.
I only knew him as an 18-year-old with a killer smile, baggy pants, and this incredible attentiveness. Even then, he was something special. I'm not surprised to read that he accomplished so much during his lifetime.
I know his family must miss him terribly and I wish you all the very best.
May 21, 2012
You are in our thoughts, Thelma and family, Darrell is beating his drums to a higher order 1,2,3... boom his legacy lives on.
Dimas
Always, Them
May 21, 2012
Richard Rosenthal
May 21, 2012
My thoughts are with you Thelma and Desiree and Chris and I'm so sorry for your loss. I met Darrell only a few times but immediately understood a profound intelligence I could not ignore. I will miss him.
Michael Rosenthal
May 20, 2012
Uncle Darrell.
How he spoke WITH you in the exchange. Without any recognizable effort, he made your big painfully boring dreadful story seem so important to him.
I enjoyed our time together in New York City, and on trips to and with him, with Aunt Thelma and theirs, scattered nicely over the years. In New York it was I, wrapped in the warm blanket of ease in my own familiars, and he, as the sage-like tourist - learning, and teaching, and listening and reaffirming my own experiences. Oh, in New York City Jazz halls, Art openings, and nature preserve hiking, to mad hot peppering, City Island adventure, I truly enjoyed being around him, sucking the sweet marrow out of life, as it were.
Yesterday was the memorial service in Baltimore. I walked around and spoke little. Indeed, I listened with tuned ears. Every conversation, every anecdote, every darn memory played out completely identical in every way, but one. Only the small detail would change circle to circle. Just the minutia.
This guy profoundly changed lives.
I will not grieve, but celebrate and remember everything I learned.
Thanks UD, Michael.
May 19, 2012
Our hearts are with the family -- you are part of our family -- we hurt with YOU.
Cousins Christine and Larry Pauley
Enrico Bonaiuti
May 19, 2012
Thanks for your enthusiasm and kindness. I will always remember the time spent in Iraq and the efforts made to improve poorest people lives. I am sad to hear this news, but your smile will be always with everyone you met leaving us a great memory and an example of life.
Ciao Darrell.
Ramón, Victoria, Rebecca, Gabriel y Raquel Alvarado-Lieber
May 18, 2012
Nuestro sentido pésame para vosotros Thelma, Desiré y Christopher. Recordamos a Darrel por su inmensa calidad humana.
Clement Lau
May 18, 2012
Dayou (Darrell's Chinese name ?? or “Big Friend”) will always in our hearts. I still remember those good old days when we were both in Taipei (AIT/CLASS) studying Chinese classic novels (the romance of the three kingdoms and the dream of the red chamber) together between 1986 & 1987. There's no question that Dayou was very talented in learning foreign languages plus he worked really, really hard on taking up every single opportunity (inside and outside the classroom) to improve his Chinese and Taiwanese. In fact, when we met again 15 years (fall 2003) later in Beijing, we both still remembered those occasions when we went to the beer houses in Beitou after classes and laughed about his language learning experience with the local musicians. He also told me that he continued to perform in bars during the time he lived in Beijing which explained why his Mandarin Chinese had improved so much that he spoke as good as the local people. My friend, whom I took with me to visit Dayou on that day, just could not believe that Doyou could speak Mandarin like a native speaker and was impressed by his great sense of humor. I know Dayou had made a lot of good friends in China, Taiwan and many other places. A friend in China, Professor Ma Jianhong at Shandong University Law School wrote this blog (http://mjh2006.fyfz.cn/art/1052287.htm) in memory of Dayou after I told her about this sad news. Dayou will surely be missed and remembered forever as a good friend among us.
With deepest sympathy,
Lau San and June
Max Oberdorf
May 18, 2012
Sorry for your loss. He grew up on one corner of the street, I grew up diagonally on the other corner. This was way too soon. He will be missed.
Max A Oberdorf
Susan Thornton
May 18, 2012
Darrell's enthusiasm and love of people was contagious and he will be very much missed. Our deepest condolences.
May 17, 2012
"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. " ~William Penn
Darrell lived an amazing adventure and that's a true achievement, We are sending comfort and wishing your family solace and peace.
Rich and Judy
basil berchekas jr
May 17, 2012
Dr Darrell Jenks was an inspiration to all of us on the Maysan Province PRT Team; I was assigned there from GRS USACE, and felt I made a contribution; I was flattered that Dr Jenks thought so as well!
Chuck and Mary Lotspeich/Confer
May 17, 2012
Our thoughts are with you all. May he keep on drumming!!!
May 17, 2012
Our thoughts are with you. May he drum on. Chuck and Mary.
May 17, 2012
Darrell was an amazing man. He was so generous with his knowledge, so giving of his time. I knew him briefly but learned a great deal. I will miss him.
May 17, 2012
In times of sorrow make the Lord your rock, he is always near.
Richard Stites
May 17, 2012
Darrell was a wonderful spirit, and he certainly made my time in Beijing more interesting -- Alison and I offer our sincere condolences.
Rich and Alison Stites
Andrew Jenks
May 17, 2012
My brother was a drummer, a diplomat, a linguist, a storyteller, an inspirational speaker, a joy and wonder to all who met him, a great father and husband, an adventurer, a seeker, curious about everything, the life of any gathering, the most interesting person I've ever met. He spoke Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Japanese. Wherever he went in the world -- and there were few places he did not go -- he conquered hearts and minds. All who met him came away with the feeling that they had touched genius. He was giving, genuine, unpretentious, full of humor and life -- the best of what America has to offer to the world. He took me to places -- physically and intellectually -- that I would never have gone. So much of what is good about me I owe to him.
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