Dr. John C. "Jack" Hennessy

Dr. John C. "Jack" Hennessy died on May 23, 2004, at the age of 74. He was born in Rockford, Ill., on August 20, 1929.

Jack is survived by his wife, Gisela, to whom he was married for 49 years; loving children: sons, Marcus of Santa Monica, Peter of Arcata, and daughter, Teresa Weburg and her husband Donald, also of Arcata; grandchildren, John, Robin and Raji Weburg; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his cousin, Cathy Shields and her husband Keith of Nuevo, Calif.; brother-in-law, George Gutnik of Fresno; sister-in-law, Eva Higgins and her husband Robert of Leesville, La.; sister-in law, Uta Statton of Stuttgart, Germany; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Callihan of Rockford, Ill. Jack is also survived by his longtime friend, Craig Cunningham of Los Angeles. Together they traveled the main highways of America and many of the back roads, and they particularly enjoyed their lengthy visit to Scotland, Ireland, and England.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John and Hazel Hennessy; brother, Robert; sister, Betty Gutnik; and nephew, Steve Hennessy.

During the Korean War, Jack served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Germany. He took his separation from the service in Germany, met his future bride Gisela, and continued working for the CIC and Army G-2 in Stuttgart and Heidelberg. Upon returning to the United States, he completed his formal education with a B.A. degree from California State University, Los Angeles, an M.A. degree from Occidental College, and a Ph.D. from UCLA. He was appointed to Assistant Professor of History at Humboldt State University in 1965, and over the years held most senior administrative positions on campus, including Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for Administrative Affairs. Subsequent to his retirement in the early 1990s, he returned on three occasions to serve briefly in vice presidential appointments, the most recent being in 2002.

In 1980-81, Jack held a Fulbright Appointment at the University of the West Indies in Barbados. It turned out to be a wonderful experience for Jack and Gisela, and they returned to the island on numerous occasions in subsequent years. Jack is a former President of the KEET-TV Board, Grand Jury Foreman, and RSVP board member.

Jack enjoyed playing golf at the Baywood Country Club. He particularly looked forward to shooting a round with his sons.

Jack has asked that memorial contributions be made to the HSU Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association Trust at Humboldt State University, Gift Processing Center, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, California 95521-8299, or to Hospice of Humboldt, 2010 Myrtle Avenue, Eureka, California, 95501.

Friends and colleagues are invited to a reception in Jack’s honor, to be held in the Goodwin Forum, HSU campus, on a date to be selected by the HSU Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association.

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