Price, Jack
1936 - 2017
Jack Price, originally Mervin J. Pribil, was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 13, 1936 to Joseph H. Pribil and Dorothy Fishman Pribil (both deceased). Jack had his Bar Mitzvah in 1949, and graduated from Heights High School in 1955, afterwards attending Ohio State University and serving his country in the US Army Reserves. Jack settled in Columbus, Ohio, and became a successful entrepreneur. Throughout his career, he owned a vinyl record store, a record supply business, an antique shop, taught driving, and eventually established Vintage Fountain Pens in Clintonville, where he sold and repaired antique pens, cameras, and other collectibles. Always perceptive of the market, Jack later transitioned much of his business to online sales and was one of the first to run a successful eBay business. Additionally, he was a Founding Member of the Ohio Pen Show, and founded the Ohio Camera Collectors Society. Little made Jack happier than his work, and he faithfully ran his business and went into work even up to the last day of his life. Two personal turning points came for him in 1986 and 2012, respectively. The first was when, at the age of 49, he met his daughter, Christine, and his grandson, Ryan, for the first time. Christine was 24 at the time, and they enjoyed a close relationship for the rest of his life. The second came when, at the age of 76, he was reunited to his college sweetheart and the love his life, Darlene. Jack and Darlene were married in 2013 and happily lived out the rest of his days together. They enjoyed annual get-a-ways to Florida, as well as trips to Israel and Paris (Jack was an avid collector of Napoleon memorabilia, so this was a real treat). Jack loved history, classic movies (Gone with the Wind was his favorite), jazz and classical music (attended Vaughn Wiester's Famous Jazz Orchestra almost every Monday night for decades), and was devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife, Darlene; daughter, Christine Barker (Ed); grandson, Ryan Robinson (Tiffany); and five great-grandchildren; granddaughter, Elizabeth Smith; sister, Judy Pollak; nephew, Daniel Pollak (Deborah Boyars); and great nephew, Tanner; niece, Debra Pollak (Thomas Grayson); and great nieces, Mira and Elana; and many cousins and friends. Family will receive friends at THE SHAW DAVIS FUNERAL HOMES, 4341 N. High St., Columbus 43214, Saturday from 2-4 p.m., where funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. A graveside service will be held Monday at Oak Grove Cemetery Delaware, Ohio. Visit www.shaw-davis.com for more details.

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Published by The Columbus Dispatch from Aug. 3 to Aug. 4, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Jack Price

Sponsored by The Columbus Dispatch.

7 Entries

Candy M

September 4, 2018

Jack was a friend of my grandfather's- my grandpa collected vinyl records. Years later, I decided I wanted a pen like my great grandma would have used as a girl so I found Jack's shop. I still have the pen he sold me and I loved chatting with him about my grandpa. I popped in the shop many times over the years and he was so patient with my kids and seemed to love teaching them about various antiques in his store. Hoe took great pride in his family and I loved hearing about his reunion with his sweetheart. I will miss himx he was one of a kind!

November 18, 2017

I've purchased ink and supplies from him and his death came as quite a shock. He was pretty nice too, let me sample the inks. I'm truly sorry to see him go.

Dan Hausman

August 15, 2017

All of us at The Ohio Camera Collector's Society are saddened by the loss. Our hearts go out to his family and many friends. Jack would often regale us with tales of the early days, always entertaining and educational.
Dan Hausman
President, The Ohio Camera Collector's Society

Scott Shaw

August 9, 2017

I sent many fountain pens from Jack's shop as gifts to people on special occasions. They were always warmly received and appreciated. It is truly an understatement to say that his shop had a touch of class. RIP Jack.

Geoffrey Bachert

August 6, 2017

I first met Merv when I came to OSU in the early Sixties. He had a record shop on campus and, being a classical and jazz fan, i found that his shop had what I was looking for and a lot more. We became friends and I soon found myself in a world which was bounded by Larry's to the North and old Charbert's to the South. Well, it was probably bigger than that but it was all I needed at the time. As the Sixties unfolded, a wonderful parade of people passed through that world, each marching to a different drum. The parade was often led by Merv, who now had changed his legal name to Jack Price. It is impossible to remember all the names of the great individuals who were in Jack's orbit but Dick Reeser, Tom Berg, Meridith, and a host of others from Larry's, Old Charberts, antique shows, concerts, and general tomfoolery, were a part of his own band of merry pranksters.

Jack and the gang from Larry's (where I was now a bartender) and Old Charbert's attended my wedding and reception, helping to turn it into a party to remember. Jack and I recently had talked about that one day when I dropped by the shop with my daughter.

Jack made a special effort to tell me when he was united with his family after many years. I think he was at his happiest then and there was still more to come.

I live about two blocks from the old Mozart's location and I often stopped by to have coffee and visit with Jack. He always had an interesting book to read and discuss. I tried to attend as many "Big Band" nights as I could and always counted on seeing Jack there. The most outstanding night was when he introduced us to his new bride and the "love of his life." Jack had the great luck of having the family I think he always yearned for. If we all could be so lucky.

I was fortunate to have known Jack and he will be remembered.

Jeff Cannell

August 5, 2017

I first met Jack around 20 years ago at a new years party hosted by Therese Nolan. I found Jack to be super engaging and he invited me to visit him in his shop.

Jack's shop encapsulated the brilliant eccentric diversity that we find in Clintonville and Old North Columbus. Fountain Pens, Classical Vinyl, Record Collecting Supplies, refurbished turntables, fountain pens, ink, die cast airplanes, vintage cameras, etc. Jack was a generous wealth of knowledge about all of these. Sometimes my son and I would just go over to hang out and listen. Jack eventually introduced me into the obsession of fountain pens.

In an age where brick and mortar stores Jack demonstrated the immeasurable value of the human component in commerce. His work was a performance art all its own.

We will all miss Jack. Our community has lost a great man. I was honored to be able to purchase a couple of records and some ink during one of the last days Jack's shop was open. I wish I would have stayed longer that day.

Tom Young

August 4, 2017

I knew Jack Price as a Clintonville resident and commentator for many years. I will miss his humor and his focus. Like a few of us, he felt a connection to the distant past, being especially related to those first few humans who sold, and bought, and undertook business.

Tom Young

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