Jack Temple Kirby

Jack Kirby worked his magic on me early in life. In the mid-1970s, at Miami University, we shared a fascination for the movies and history. He also planted some southern seeds in my young mind. Once sprouted, they've pushed out everything else. Maybe it was Kudzu.

Jack possessed a very special crystal ball. It looked backward, forward, and deep inside the issue at hand. Whatever was on the table, Jack knew how to dissect it and find the pertinent implications. And it was...

What we feel at the loss of our generous and collaborative neighbor, Jack Kirby, defies our ability to put into words. For us to have landed here right next door to Jack Kirby when we moved to Sunset Landing in St Augustine was nothing short of miraculous. His intuitive understanding of so many different people, places and cultures made our daily exchanges a joy always to be looked forward to. His sense of humor never failed. His energy never flagged. His love of the South as a scholar, an...

I was a history major at Miami (Class of '85). Prof. Kirby was my favorite professor and one I always talked about when reminiscing about college. Besides being an excellent lecturer, he once told me he thought I was an excellent writer (he said it in a much more colorful way). This seemingly simple act of encouragement to a young student had an incredible impact on my confidence. I love history in no small manner because of Prof. Kirby. My condolences to the family. Please be assured...

What I remember most about Jack is his marvelous, rich baritone voice. It projected so eloquently and simply his warmth and his generous nature and matched his gift for making one feel worthy. What surprised and gladdened me most was that he and Constance, both such splendid people, in all ways, managed to find and sustain each other over the years.
My heart is heavy for him and just aches for Constance.
Virginia Martucci

Above all, I remember Jack laughing. As serious and important as his writing was, as deeply as he cared about teaching, as much as he understood our planet to be in imperiled, Jack still knew the world through laughter. I can't laugh off his passing. But I can remember our times and laugh again with him.

I always enjoyed walking down to the end of the river to watch the sunset and saying hi to Jack at his favorite spot on the balcony. He was a friendly neighbor and he will surely be missed. Constance, we want you to know that everyone in the neighborhood is here for you and those talkative shelties!

We will miss Jack's presence. He was an intelligent, kind, and thoughtful person and we always loved talking with him and seeing him as we rounded the corner on our way home. He added much to our neighborhood, gave of his time and knowledge unselfishly, and he will be remembered with great fondness. It has been a privilege to know Jack and we look forward to our continuing friendship with Constance. You both are in our hearts.

Jack advised my dissertation from 1995-2000. He was a great mentor, but above all, a great friend. He never failed to look out for my well-being as a person and always looked for ways to improve my scholarship. I looked forward to each and every visit to his office, knowing that I'd be enlightened and entertained. I will miss him dearly.

Dr. Kirby was a wonderful complement to Dr. Yamauchi. Both served as excellent mentors in radically different ways. I have fond memories of Dr. Kirby's many questions about my religious beliefs--all while he swished his wine and interjected some Epicurean tidbits from Napa Valley lore. I suppose what I took away from times with him, besides a much deeper knowledge base (he was an excellent professor!) was knowing that though we often were on different sides of issues, he believed in me and...