William C. Jackson

William C. Jackson, 62, son of the late Alton Brookman and Irene Faas Jackson, died May 4th. He grew up in La Jolla, California. He is survived by his brother, James M. Jackson, Lexington, Kentucky and nieces Jennifer and Roxanne. Bill graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1977 with a BS in Actuarial Science. He was a scholarship member of the Nebraska tennis team and played on the football team. He began his career as director of marketing for the Gallup Polling Organization, Omaha, Neb. and then co-founded National Research Corp. Omaha. He designed and conducted consumer surveys for hospitals and medical clinics across the nation and for commercial businesses. Later he served as marketing director for Presbyterian HealthCare Services of Albuquerque, NM and was Vice President of program development for Children's Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, CA. In 1991 he founded Consumer Research Center and served as president. In his career he interviewed thousands of patients, physicians, health-care professionals and business leaders in a nationwide effort to improve healthcare delivery. He was one of the pioneers in healthcare satisfaction research. In retirement he was a volunteer at the Kaiser Hospital Morse, the Tree Foundation, River City Food Bank and Stanford Settlement. Bill was a member and deacon at Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was a world traveler and adventurer. He successfully ascended Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (19,321 ft), Mt. Elbrus in Russia (18,463 ft) and several of the highest peaks in Ireland and in Western US. His climb of Kilimanjaro is captured in the book Journey to the Top of Africa, written by his climbing partner, author Patrick Mages. The story features Bill prominently. He was a member of a four-man crew that paddled a native dugout canoe through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Bill's response, "It was a very risky way to see the canal, but totally worth the effort." In his life long world travels he visited countries on six of the seven continents. Bill will be remembered by friends as a brilliant mind with broad and eclectic interests, a man who was both critical and compassionate with strong opinions and a big heart. A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, July 15th, 3:00 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N Street, Sacramento. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctor's Without Borders, Children's Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, CA, River City Food Bank or the Sacramento Tree Foundation.