Jack Melvin Mitchell

1916 - 2017

JACK MITCHELL Jack Melvin Mitchell died Nov. 14, 2016, at his home in Vista. In August, Jack celebrated his 100th birthday. He was born on Aug. 8, 1916, in a small village near the city of Kiev in Ukraine. His family experienced pogroms and the turbulence of the Russian revolution before coming to America in 1921. At that time, Jack's family included his father, Samuel, his mother, Sarah, and his older sister, Pauline. Jack's parents had another daughter, Reva, after they came to America. The family settled in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Jack attended public schools there and graduated from North High School. He attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. In 1939, Jack married Ann Levich, whom he had met in high school. The newlyweds went on a honeymoon road trip that took them to Southern California. During World War II, Jack worked for the Department of the Navy, inspecting planes. After he was transferred to San Diego, Jack and Ann decided to stay in Southern California. They lived for a year or two on the Strand in Redondo Beach and then in Hermosa Beach during the 1950s. In the late 50s, they bought a lot on a canyon hillside in Rolling Hills Estates and built a home there, where they lived for many years. Jack was sociable and had a strong sense of political justice. He enjoyed intellectual pursuits, as well as watching sports on television. In his younger days, he played tennis and chess. Later, he took up golf. When he was in his 70s, he played softball with other seniors. He liked reading novels and non-fiction. He followed the news closely. He and Ann were lifelong Democrats, and before they retired were active in local Democratic clubs. They were among a group of people who started Pacific Unitarian Church on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. They enjoyed traveling. When their sons, Larry and Andy, were young, they took camping trips around the West. Later, Jack and Ann traveled overseas, visiting Great Britain, Scandinavia, and the European continent. Their journeys took them to Italy a number of times. Jack worked for 28 years for Bechtel Corp. as an engineer, helping to design power plants. After he retired in 1983, Jack enrolled at CSU, Dominguez Hills. There he earned a master's degree in humanities. He wrote a master's thesis on the French knight Sir Bertrand du Guesclin. As a boy, he had enjoyed reading stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. A new chapter in Jack's life began in 1993. After he and Ann divorced, Jack moved to Leisure World in Laguna Woods. There he met Sophie Cedarbaum, who became his partner for the next 18 years. Together, they enjoyed reading, playing Scrabble and watching the news. They took trips to Israel, Russia, Alaska and other places. Jack was of Jewish heritage but had never practiced Judaism. Sophie, however, was active in the local synagogue. Jack participated with her and enjoyed discussing theology with the rabbi. In 2005, Jack and Sophie moved from Leisure World to Heritage Pointe, a Jewish assisted-living center in Mission Viejo. After Sophie died in 2011, Jack moved to McIntosh Manor, a board-and-care home in Vista. There he enjoyed the company of the staff and fellow residents. Jack is survived by his two sons Larry (Margot) and Andy (Liz), and his younger sister, Reva Isaacman; grandchildren, Jevon and Bryna; nieces, Laurie, Lynn, Lisa and Barbara; and nephews Denny and Michael. Also surviving Jack are Sophie's son, Jesse (Linda) and Jesse's sons, Zachary and Derek. At his request, Jack's ashes are to be scattered over the California mountains.