Jack L. Easterling

Jack hired me, nurtured me, befriended me, and cared at all times for the Naehers' flourishing at Emma Willard School. Of course, that puts me in very good company as he clearly did the same for generations of students and multitudes of colleagues and friends (with a very blurry line between those categories). How he was able to do this for so many while making all of us feel especially valued and respected, is part of the genius and character of the man. It was in his DNA to care deeply for truth and beauty, and to carry others along with him in his quest to know and experience more of both, giving his best and calling on others to do the same. Rest in peace, Jack, and may your family find comfort in knowing that so many have counted themselves blessed and much better off to have known, worked with, and spent time with you. Thank you.

Sorry so late in turning this in, Jack. I'm sure you have heard that excuse before. Your kindness and wisdom were always there for me and for the teachers and students you worked with.You were supportive of artful things, good conversation, and energetic planning. It was always a pleasure sharing ideas with you. May you rest in peace and discuss art and literature with all the masters in those fields who now reside with you in the Happy Fields. Ed McCartan

I can´t imagine a world without Mr. Easterling in it. (And he will always be Mr. Easterling, not Jack.) When I think of him, I see first a grove of birch trees bright in the faded light and green of early fall. Mr. Easterling thrilled to the beauty of language and the images and themes it masterminded. Of course, we caught that thrill, as he paced back and forth, nodding gleefully or perplexedly to our early symptoms, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, and the moody melodrama of senior year seized the moody melodrama of Russian Literature, and the two will be forever entwined in my memory -- the birch grove of The Hunting Sketches, meticulously etched by Turgenev, emitting its filtered light whenever Mr. Easterling comes to mind.

In the next instant, or in the instant before, I think of Mrs. Easterling, as the two were the pillars of my Senior (and Junior) years. Over and over I would read her course description for Men, Machines, and Freedom, having caught her thrill as well, how extraordinary a creature is man, to dream these divine ideals, and to do these devilish things. Years later, without knowing the influence, I would teach the great hope of these ideals to lift humanity from its baser pulls. In retirement (retirement from what?), she continues to live those ideals in the face of the troubling trends around us.

Together, they taught me to think and write with more skill and more purpose. What is your opinion? Prove it! What do you believe? Commit to it! And: the best writing comes full circle, but, oh, how transformed that circle is at the end!

The pair were at our 50th Reunion, celebrating that and their daughters´ 35th. We were their first class, and my classmate Robin was their first babysitter. We held that stature with smug pride.

To say I wish they had been more a part of my life is empty of meaning. Of course! But how do you become friends with your standard bearers? Instead, over the years they lifted me up when most needed. Once, just finding my eleventh grade report card with their words like pointed arrows that found my strengths was enough to roll back clouds of self-doubt.

And so, in tribute to Mr. Easterling and his mourning widow, I hold them fast in the birch grove, holding each other fast, as Alison and Heather pitch forward from under a neighborhood tree, their arms outstretched, the birch grove "all illumined, as though everything within it had suddenly smiled."

Oh farewell dear Jack!, mentor and old friend.

Jack´s passing is a profound loss to the host of students, colleagues, friends and local communities where he has lived. Jack´s keen intelligence, committed scholarship and impressive mastery of a wide range of knowledge and skills are legendary. But it is for his love of life, his humanity and his unfailing kindness that he will live on in our hearts.

To Jack´s beloved family, our good friends for so many years, I offer my sincerest condolences for the deep loss they must feel, and my encouraging thoughts as they experience the solace of cherished memories. I send my love to you all.

I was very sad to hear the news about Jack´s death. He was a gifted teacher and wonderful friend to me, my mother and late father. In his classes I learned to appreciate the wonders of Shakespeare and the complex humanity of Russian literature. I remember what a welcome dinner guest he was at my parents´ house. His story telling and curiosity made for stimulating and fun conversations. He gave my mother great support when my father died and also provided a rousing speech at her 90th birthday.

He will be missed. My heart goes out to Marcia and the family.

being a sensible person in Mr Naugle's 4th year math class at WHS in 1956.

I will always remember the fact that Jack took a chance on me at EWS, appointing me Assistant Academic Dean well before I thought I deserved it. That faith in me opened the path to my having a long, happy career as the Head of a girls´ school on the West Coast. Jack had a seriousness of purpose but was quick to laugh at the little absurdities of life at a boarding school. His love of literature infused everything he did and despite being an administrator, he was always a scholar.

Thank you Jack and the Easterling family for welcoming us into your lives like a family. Gosh, it´s been so long... So sorry to hear of the sad news and so sorry to be out of touch for so long. Ms Perry from Emma Willard School let us know of Jack´s passing while attending Gabby´s graduation and baccalaureaat ceremonies. And while we were walking around the campus, remembering many happy moments, we ran into this painting of Mr. Easterling.
We will be sure to think of all the happy moments we´ve shared with Jack...and know that we are thinking of you all.
Joo-Mee, Paul & Gabby.

I was student at Emma Willard in the 80s and will never forget one evening in Sage Living Room when I saw Mr. Easterling (along with Mr. Lamar and Mr. Huidekoper, I believe?) doing a dramatic reading of T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land," complete with choreography. It struck me as really cool that our teachers' love for literary art extended well beyond the classroom and that they cared enough to set up this performance for us. "So *that's* the kind of school this is," I remember thinking. I mourn the loss of Mr. Easterling as an EW alum, but even more than that, I mourn the loss for his family, especially Mrs. Easterling and my beautiful friends Heather and Alison.

Jack was like a brother to me. We met at Bread Loaf in 1966 and when he joined me on the staff at Emma Willard in 1968, we began a relationship, both personal and professional, that has sustained me for more than half a century. Being his office mate for many years gave me the chance to observe his brilliant coaching of students, and when in the 70s we wrote two textbooks together, we travelled many miles together doing presentations and talking literature and teaching. My wife Jill and I were with Marcie and Jack the weekend before he died, and I thank the powers that be that we had the chance to tell each other just how much we cherished each other´s friendship and love.

I was looking forward, in a little more than a week, to seeing Jack and Marcia again at our 50th Emma Willard Reunion. I was a huge admirer of Jack´s teaching (I took Russian Lit and a Short Story course with him in the early 70´s) and he instilled a love of literature in me! I send my condolences to Marcia, Allison & Heather and their families.

27 years ago, Mr. Easterling hired me as an intern for the Spanish Dept at Emma Willard. From the beginning, he was compassionate, interested, and always available to lend an ear or share words of wisdom. He was my first mentor.Even during my short time at Emma, it was very clear to me how respected and beloved he was to the community. He made everyone feel seen and appreciated! In fact, when I left Emma the following year, he stayed connected with me for years through holiday cards. Mr. Easterling´s legacy will carry on through all those who had the great privilege to work with him. Deep condolences to his family.

I suspect I was about 2 years old when I first met Jack, though I don´t remember it and I wouldn´t have tested him on the subject. Through the years, he was my father´s co-worker, my friends´ father, my school´s teacher and administrator, my neighbor, my boss, and most importantly, someone I just adored. Since I heard the news, so many memories have been flowing through my mind bringing tears and smiles. I´m sure, someday in the future, the memories will only bring smiles because Jack was a man made for that. To all my adored Easterlings, know you are in my heart. I send you all my love.

Mr. Easterling has been an important figure throughout my childhood and adult life. I have known him as a family friend, a teacher, and in recent years, a surrogate grandfather to my son. Jack's obituary is probably the most eloquent I've ever read, and the most successful at capturing a man whose legend is way beyond what words can adequately express. To say that Mr. and Mrs. Easterling have a gift for hospitality is an understatement. They can't even begin to know how their generosity has impacted my family. Jack's departure from this world is a profound personal loss for me, but I will always cherish and be grateful for the gift he has been to me and to my family. My heart goes out to his entire family.

Mr. Easterling was the man who sparked my love of learning and confidence in myself at Emma Willard and I will be forever grateful for his guidance, kindness, and tough love. I was lucky enough to have known him since I was a child, through my high school years, and as an adult...a treasured colleague (though I could never call him Jack). He was the epitome of goodness and I will miss him. I´m thinking about you, Mrs. Easterling, Heather, and Alison...
With love,
Shannon Blaisdell

I have had the pleasure of working with Jack and his family over the past six months. Jack and I would speak often about one thing or the other, however, one of the first things I learned about Jack is that he never missed a moment to tell someone he appreciated them. He was a kind, patient, and genuine person who quickly became one of my favorite people to work with.
There were a few times where I could see his call coming in on the caller ID and I would answer right away. I´d usually say something along the lines of "Well Good Morning Jack!" Jack would be so surprised and tickled by the fact that I would know it was him calling; He would begin giggling as soon as I greeted him with such genuine amusement that I knew it was him before he even spoke.
My deepest condolences to Marcia and the entire Easterling family during this difficult time. It´s clear that Jack had a way of leaving a lasting and impactful impression on everyone he met and through that, his legacy will always live on.

Jack was a celebrated teacher at St Johnsbury Academy, where I taught with him, and at the Emma Willard school (where he was known as the legend). He was a teachers teacher...always interested in his students. He was also a wonderful friend and kept up many long friendships through his interest in his friend's lives and enthusiasms.
Very knowledgable in history, art and music, he was a discerning critic as a reader. Mention any book and he could recall reading it, recall what it was about, and place its significance as literature. He was a true student of the history of thought, and very impatient with academic pretense or a lazy ignorance. He did not suffer fools gladly, especially among degree lardooned academics, but he was quick to laugh and. offered a sharp sense of humor that revealed a compassion below the surface.
He was, over a friendship of 60 years and more, an inspiration and a standard for me. His intellectual achievement and his acute penetration of any situation made him a formidable presence on any challenging occasion, and a model teacher, demonstrating the uses of intellect, curiosity, and of literacy as a guide to life. I will miss his wit and understanding, as will many others.