Jack Herschlag

Jack Herschlag, a successful writer, entrepreneur and sports promoter died peacefully at his home in Clifton, New Jersey on July 26 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 91. From 1968 to 2004 he served first as promotion manager then later executive director of the National Association of Men's Sportswear Buyers (NAMSB). In its heyday NAMSB's semi-annual trade shows brought together thousands of suppliers and retailers and were the premier event nationally for menswear as well as among the largest by volume and attendance for any type of trade show. Shows filled the New Yorker Hotel for many years until outgrowing that space and moving nearby to the larger, more modern Javits Center. Herschlag, serving in a relatively small, efficient organization that expanded seasonally, was a "jack" of all trades at a time when NAMSB's outsize trade shows were considered critical to New York City's economy and when the city's fashion industry was at its peak.

Jack Herschlag was born October 28, 1931 in Queens, NY to Shulim Herschlag and Ida (Greene) Herschlag. He graduated from Jamaica High School in 1949. Herschlag had not planned a career in the fashion industry. But after graduating in 1953 from Queens College-where he served as editor of the weekly student newspaper The Crown-with a degree in English and then serving for two years as a high speed radio operator in the US Army during the Korean War era (honorable discharge), one of his first jobs happened to be as a reporter and editor at Fairchild Publications for Women's Wear Daily. From 1962 to 1967 he served as advertising manager for the film division at Walt Disney, where he planned and executed ad campaigns for eight feature films per year, including Mary Poppins and various feature productions starring established actors such as Haley Mills, Annette Funicello, and Fred MacMurray.

When in 1968 Herschlag decided for family reasons not to relocate to California with the Disney film division, he found both the earlier fashion reporting and the time at Disney helpful in landing his initial job at NAMSB. Once there, he utilized long dormant theatrical talents to co-produce and write lyrics for the company's semi-annual industrial show, a live stage production highlighting developments in fashion and employing major Broadway talent. He also founded the African American Fashion Retailers Association under the NAMSB umbrella with the purpose of empowering buyers for smaller Black-owned clothing retailers.

During his years in business Herschlag took on numerous entrepreneurial ventures. In 1967 he co-authored with explorer Fred Salazar The Innocent Assassins (E.P. Dutton), the story of a harrowing expedition into the Amazon jungle making first contact with aboriginal villages. The following year Herschlag co-authored with folk singer Bill Crofut Troubadour (E.P. Dutton), about Crofut's travels throughout the world as a cultural emissary for the U.S. Department of State. The foreword was written by Robert F. Kennedy and was among the last published writings by the former U.S Attorney General before his assassination later that year.

Jack Herschlag's best known entrepreneurial venture was probably Halfcourt Basketball, Inc., which with the help of Hall of Fame star Rick Barry promoted large three-on-three tournaments for corporate sponsors in dozens of cities throughout the U.S. As a sponsor of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Converse was required to run an Olympic Youth Program and chose Halfcourt Basketball for that purpose. This selection ultimately led to the adoption of three-on-three basketball as an Olympic sport, one of Herschlag's original goals.

After retiring, Jack Herschlag resumed an earlier interest in painting still lifes, portraits, and landscapes in oil and served in numerous charitable organizations. He served as Democratic District Leader and as a member of the Montclair, NJ Democratic Club for 30 years. In 1992 he headed the first Bill Clinton presidential campaign in Montclair.

Jack was married since 1976 to Dr. Judith Knox Herschlag, a psychologist who served as Director of Clinical Services at Straight & Narrow, Inc. a major social services organization under the auspices of Catholic Charities. She survives him. His first wife, Harriet (Singer) Herschlag, died in 1971. His older brother, Irwin Herschlag, predeceased him. Jack Herschlag is also survived by a son, Richard Herschlag and his wife Susan (Mann) Herschlag of Easton, PA; a younger brother, Herbert Herschlag and his wife Jane (Berger) Herschlag of Danbury, CT; granddaughters Rachel Herschlag of State College, PA and Elise Herschlag of Queens, NY; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who meant the world to him, with whom he had a close and loving relationship and brought laughter to with almost every conversation.

Jack was a limitless resource, a kind friend, and a discerning mentor to all who knew him, and he will continue to inspire everyone who had the privilege of meeting him. In lieu of flowers Jack has encouraged charitable donations to The High School of Fashion Industries, 225 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011.