Jack Etheridge Jr.

1936 - 2022

ETHERIDGE, Jr., Jack A.

Jack A. Etheridge, Jr. passed away peacefully in his home on September 21, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was 85. The son of Jack A. Etheridge, Sr. and Roma Lee Akins Etheridge, Jack was born and raised in Atlanta, where he met and later married his high school sweetheart, Claudia Herndon. After graduating from Oglethorpe University, where he was President of the Boar's Head (an honors fraternity), he embarked on his career with Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., beginning as a pharmaceutical sales representative. From there he rapidly ascended the ranks. As Product Sales Manager for Valium, he was part of the marketing program that introduced that innovative drug to the world and made it for a time the best-selling pharmaceutical in the United States. He later became Director of Marketing for Pantene, propelling it from a little-known boutique hair care product line found only in upscale department stores to the household name it is today. In 1979, he became a founding partner and CEO of Etheridge, Palombo & Sedewitz, Inc., specializing in pharmaceutical print advertising. Operating out of offices overlooking Times Square, Jack loved to joke that he had always wanted to open on Broadway.

Upon their retirement, Jack and Claudia relocated to Hilton Head, SC, where they lived for a few years until the lure of city living enticed them away. They joined their children who were both then living in the Historic Fell's Point section of Baltimore, Maryland. They became active in The Preservation Society, restoring a pre-Revolutionary War townhouse for which they received the prestigious Baltimore Heritage Award for Historic Preservation. In 2017, Jack and Claudia together received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fell's Point in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their adopted seaport community.

Beloved by all who knew him, "Daddy Jack" (as he was affectionately called by Fell's Point locals) could regularly be seen walking along the Belgian block streets with his cherished Hairless Chinese Cresteds, stopping often to chat with neighbors and friends. Jack loved to collect wines (his favorites being the 1975 Chateau d'Yquem, the 1974 Bolla Amarone, and the 1978 Bertani Amarone), listen to show tunes, host dinner parties, and share a good laugh.

In addition to his beloved wife of 64 years, Jack is survived by his daughter, The Honorable Jennifer Etheridge (Jeff Huegel) of Baltimore; and son, Jack Etheridge III (Joti Rodar) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandson, Brenden Huegel of Manhattan; sister, Brenda Etheridge Vollrath (Joel) of Hiram, Georgia; brother-in-law, David Herndon (JoAnne); sisters-in-law, Holly Cochran (Keith), Patricia Herndon, and Hannalore Herndon; several nieces and nephews, and a myriad of loving friends. Jack was predeceased by his parents; brothers-in-law, Robert Herndon and Stanley Herndon; and sister-in-law, Annette Herndon. A Memorial Service for Jack will be held at a later date. If you wish, the family requests that donations in his name be made to BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue Care & Shelter).