Jack L. Easterling

Jack hired me, nurtured me, befriended me, and cared at all times for the Naehers' flourishing at Emma Willard School. Of course, that puts me in very good company as he clearly did the same for generations of students and multitudes of colleagues and friends (with a very blurry line between those categories). How he was able to do this for so many while making all of us feel especially valued and respected, is part of the genius and character of the man. It was in his DNA to care deeply...

Sorry so late in turning this in, Jack. I'm sure you have heard that excuse before. Your kindness and wisdom were always there for me and for the teachers and students you worked with.You were supportive of artful things, good conversation, and energetic planning. It was always a pleasure sharing ideas with you. May you rest in peace and discuss art and literature with all the masters in those fields who now reside with you in the Happy Fields. Ed McCartan

I can´t imagine a world without Mr. Easterling in it. (And he will always be Mr. Easterling, not Jack.) When I think of him, I see first a grove of birch trees bright in the faded light and green of early fall. Mr. Easterling thrilled to the beauty of language and the images and themes it masterminded. Of course, we caught that thrill, as he paced back and forth, nodding gleefully or perplexedly to our early symptoms, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, and the moody melodrama of senior year seized...

Oh farewell dear Jack!, mentor and old friend.

Jack´s passing is a profound loss to the host of students, colleagues, friends and local communities where he has lived. Jack´s keen intelligence, committed scholarship and impressive mastery of a wide range of knowledge and skills are legendary. But it is for his love of life, his humanity and his unfailing kindness that he will live on in our hearts. To Jack´s beloved family, our good friends for so many years, I offer my sincerest condolences for the deep loss they must feel, and my...

I was very sad to hear the news about Jack´s death. He was a gifted teacher and wonderful friend to me, my mother and late father. In his classes I learned to appreciate the wonders of Shakespeare and the complex humanity of Russian literature. I remember what a welcome dinner guest he was at my parents´ house. His story telling and curiosity made for stimulating and fun conversations. He gave my mother great support when my father died and also provided a rousing speech at her 90th...

being a sensible person in Mr Naugle's 4th year math class at WHS in 1956.

I will always remember the fact that Jack took a chance on me at EWS, appointing me Assistant Academic Dean well before I thought I deserved it. That faith in me opened the path to my having a long, happy career as the Head of a girls´ school on the West Coast. Jack had a seriousness of purpose but was quick to laugh at the little absurdities of life at a boarding school. His love of literature infused everything he did and despite being an administrator, he was always a scholar.