ENGLER, Jack Psychotherapist/ Meditation Teacher Jack Engler, 83, passed away peacefully, on March 12, with his wife, Renée DeYoe; daughter, Gaelen; son, Ian; and son-in-law, Gerben Scherpbier by his side. Jack was born in Boston, MA, the first son of Doris and Les Engler, and raised in Tenafly, NJ with his brother, Bob (Newton, MA) and sister, Ellen (Hartford, CT). Jack attended the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated as valedictorian. From there he set off on his lifelong spiritual quest, which was both intensely personal and academic. He was nationally recognized for his work integrating Eastern meditation traditions with Western psychotherapy, and he co-authored Transformations of Consciousness. He was a beloved psychotherapist and teacher, respected and admired for his compassion and insight. Jack was on the clinical faculty of Harvard Medical School as a teaching supervisor. He served many years on the boards of the Insight Meditation Society and Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

His pursuit for meaning was realized when he met and married Renée 37 years ago. She supported him immensely throughout their relationship. Family life brought him a new kind of happiness he had not known. He was a devoted father who cared for his family wholeheartedly.

Jack was an accomplished sailor who adored being on the water. On land, he was passionate about playing golf, ideally on the links in Scotland and Ireland. His Buddhist nature was often tested by his competitive side, despite his denials. Jack was a country music fan "before country was cool". Back in the early 50s, he and Bob would have their Emerson radio tuned in late to pick up WWVA listening to Hank Williams.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation in Jack's honor to the Insight Meditation Scholarship Fund, 1230 Pleasant Street, Barre, MA 01005. Please consider signing the guestbook at Duckett Funeral Home's website.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Mar. 21 to Mar. 27, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Jack ENGLER

14 Entries

SEONGHEE SON

June 19, 2025

My name is Seonghee Son, and I´m currently translating the Korean edition of Internal Family Systems Therapy: New Dimensions.
Some time ago, I reached out to Jack Engler via email to request a profile photo for inclusion in his chapter of Korean edition. However, the message was repeatedly returned, and after further searching, I was deeply saddened to learn that he passed away in 2023.

It would have meant so much to introduce his wisdom and presence to Korean readers during his lifetime. I truly regret that we didn´t have that opportunity sooner.

If it´s possible, I would love to include a photo of him alongside his chapter, as a way to honor and introduce him to Korean readers even now. If you are someone who could help with this, or if you could kindly direct me to someone who can assist, I would be very grateful.

Thank you in advance, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Warmest regards,
Seonghee Son
Relation Power Plant | Korean Publisher
[email protected]

Brett M. Rhyne

July 25, 2024

My love and gratitude for Jack is vast, and having his kindness, wisdom and humor in my life during a pivotal period reaffirms my belief that everything happens exactly the way it's supposed to. Some of his pithier remarks:

"Even an amoeba pulls away when you poke it with a stick. So think of it this way: By reaching out to someone who has hurt you, you're fighting 100 million years of evolution."

"Affection is the antidote to anger."

"God is good, but He's not THAT good."

And one that perhaps encapsulates his holistic approach: "The goal of any practice, therapeutic or spiritual, is to look toward the pain."

See you next time, Jack.

Brett M. Rhyne

Planted Trees

Paul Beauchamp

March 24, 2024

Jack was a wonderful person and therapist; patient, circumspect and well-considered. A true, caring person who did his best to pratice "right livelihood".

marijke aveling

February 18, 2024

My condolences for his family. I remember him so well, he helped me in 1981, in a difficult period, to get back to the Netherlands, so sorry to read he has gone.

Amma Thanasanti

December 19, 2023

Jack was my first introduction to Buddhism in 1979at UCSC. The way he responded to the human underneath the question we asked, moved me. I was lit up with the Dharma and had questions like how does this help me deal with my stepmom. He spent hours answering my questions and at the end, he said, please come again and ask more. His warmth, humanness made me realize, I wanted to be like that! It catapulted me into my lifelong spiritual journey, being transformed meeting Dipa Ma, ordaining as a Buddhist Nun and a debt of gratitude I can never forget. I tried multiple times to reach him or friends who knew him these past two years. I´d be grateful to connect with family and share more stories if that is welcomed. Amma Thanasanti

Much love, marushka and tracy

Planted Trees

Much love to you renee, marush

Planted Trees

Robert A. Jonas

April 16, 2023

Jack was a lovely, listening, kind, and wise man. We'd often share stories about our experience as therapists, and about our common interest in the Buddhist-Christian dialogue. I will miss him, but, in a way, his healing presence will never die. Blessings to Renée and family.

Arthur Kilmurray

April 5, 2023

It was a great privilege to work with Jack for several years and I always looked forward to our time together. We shared a love of spiritual inquiry, family and baseball and he was very helpful in my own inner journey with his IFS insights. As he as retiring and I was moving to California, we completed our time together with a wonderful afternoon sailing out in Boston Harbor. I am so sorry I never got to see him again. I miss him deeply. Much love to his family.

Chris McElroy

March 25, 2023

I was blessed to know Jack in the 80s when we were fellows at Yale Psychiatric Institute and when he was director of the Schiff Day Treatment Center and I was a psychologist at Fresh Pond MHC both in Cambridge. He was a beloved therapist, valued teacher and a leader in community mental health. He leaves an amazing legacy

Patient of Jack

March 23, 2023

I was Jack's patient for 14 years, from age 21 until age 35, when he retired. I came to him having just been diagnosed with a significant mental health issue. Jack was a truly exceptional therapist, and it was a deeply healing relationship. Working with him for so long is one of the biggest blessings of my life. Jack always had such a calm, grounding and gentle presence, and he was a gifted listener and witness. His profound insight and wisdom was paired with a deeply compassionate nature, and he always brought out the best in me. Jack was trained in Internal Family Systems therapy, and he skillfully taught me how to work with my feelings (or "parts" of myself) on my own. Knowing how to get in touch with and work with my "parts" has been a priceless inner resource that Jack helped me to develop during my years of therapy. Even though our therapeutic relationship ended with his retirement, I still feel his wisdom and guidance within me, and he planted seeds that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

jill hallisey

March 20, 2023

Renee. I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Jack fondly from pelagic sailing club. Peace and love
Jill hallisey

Marushka

March 19, 2023

Jack, I will always love you and cherish our time together over the decades. I first met Jack and Renee in 1980 and spent time with both of them over the decades before our kids were born. My most cherished memory of jack was when we both independently went to see Stephen Levine the death and dying guru and found each other among the 200 plus people that were there. We practiced watching each other breathe and mirroring the others breath waiting for a second before inhaling after the other and exhaling. I realize now that there were so many times when I felt Jacks presence with me when we were together and this was another way more somatically that I felt held by Jack. He was such a beautiful, gentle, and non judgemental being and I will miss him. The world was a better place with him in it. RIP dear friend.

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