Jim Jackson died more than five years ago, on Jan. 16, 2018, but no obituary has been located. Memories of him are unusually sparse, because he never contributed to our reunion books or class notes nor maintained contact with those who knew him best at Amherst.
He was Ralph Blume ’60’s classmate at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, N.Y., and an Alpha Theta Xi fraternity brother at Amherst. Ralph noted, “We seemed to be very close. I was at his wedding but subsequently lost all touch with him and was never able to find him or anything about him. I felt it as a major loss.”
Charlie Cobb ’60 remembers that Jim was “my fraternity brother and roommate, but we too lost touch. Jim’s pledging Theta Xi was the reason we were expelled from that national organization. He was a good friend, an awesome high jumper on the track team and an overall positive person, not given to intense study but a committed bridge player. I am saddened by his departure.”
Bob Glickman ’60 observed that Jim “did not participate in fraternity activities, and I suspect he was not happy at Amherst, although the entire fraternity welcomed him.”
Jim was a psychology major. Classmates may remember his herculean efforts to pass the required swimming test, which allegedly persisted until the night before graduation.
Assembled by Dick Weisfelder ’60 with help from the classmates mentioned
Leon arrived at Amherst from his home in Rochester, N.Y. While in public high school, he had been a student at the Eastman School of Music, studying both the violin and the piano. He continued his musical interests at Amherst and was president of the Glee Club in his senior year. He and I played piano duets in the basement of James during our freshman year and became fast friends. In the late ’50s, Amherst had only a few Black students (perhaps seven), but that was never an issue. Phi Alpha Psi had almost all of them, so it was natural for Leon to join the fraternity. As a good friend, I followed him there.
After graduation, he enrolled in Princeton for a master’s degree in music. He moved from the piano to the organ and also became a composer of church music. Soon after graduation, he declared that he was gay and moved to the Bay Area. He avoided any contact with former friends. He then obtained a nursing degree and spent the remainder of his professional life as a nurse at the San Francisco Kaiser Permanente hospital.
My wife, Wendy, and I tracked him down along the Russian River at a home he shared with his longtime husband, Angelo Proserpi. He remained upbeat and cheerful. He preferred to leave his former life behind, and we never reestablished regular contact. Leon died on Feb. 22, 2023.
Leon Joseph Du Bois II, age 84, passed away on February 22, 2023, in Forestville, California. He is survived by his loving husband, Angelo Proserpi. Leon is predeceased by his parents, L. Ernest and Evelyn E. Du Bois; a brother, J. Ernest Du Bois, and a sister, Carolyn Du Bois Claytor. Leon is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Ann D. and Ivin L. Smith; a cousin, Leonore Dey, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. Leon will be inurned at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park, Sebastopol, California.
The happy news first. Angelo and I got married on December 27, 2022, after 35 years together. We waited until after Angelo retired so that I wouldn't have to deal with his business should anything have happened to him. We had a very small ceremony and were able to celebrate with Angelo's family in Sacramento over the New Year's weekend.
And now the bad news. Last Friday [Feb 10 or Feb 17, 2023] I was admitted to the hospital with highly elevated blood serum calcium. My prostate cancer has metastasized to my bones and I elected to stop treatment and come home with hospice. I wish to be made as comfortable as possible and let my body follow it's natural course. So far Angelo and I are coping well. Please send my love to my square dance family.
Leon Joseph Du Bois FORESTVILLE - Leon Joseph Du Bois II, age 84, passed away on February 22, 2023, in Forestville, California. He is survived by his loving husband, Angelo Proserpi. Leon is predeceased by his parents, L. Ernest and Evelyn E. Du Bois; a brother, J. Ernest Du Bois, and a sister, Carolyn Du Bois Claytor. Leon is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Ann D. and Ivin L. Smith; a cousin, Leonore Dey, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. Leon will be inurned at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park, Sebastopol, California.[2]
Remembrances
Leon was one of the sweetest men I ever met in square dance. I fondly remember member being invited to lunch at the lovely home he shared with Angelo Proserpi in Forestville (Sonoma County). So sorry to hear of his passing. SJB — Susan Siegfried (aka Suzie Jo Bradley)
So sorry to hear of Leon's passing. He and I first met in 1980, dated several times, and remained friends afterwards via our love of opera and having the same SFO subscription night (Fridays). I eventually got him to check out square dancing; he first shows up in the 1984 WSD Directory, and later editions show him as having graduated in July 1984 (same class as James and Tom's, WSD's 5th one). I hadn't been in contact with him since Covid. A real loss to the square dance community. — Russ King
Oh no. I was in contact with Leon and his partner, Angelo, for many years. This is so sad for me. Angelo, and his sister, and Leon made many trips to Haiti for many years to support the poor and especially after national disasters. Ernest DeBois was Leon's Brother. Leon, Angelo, and Ernest were all a lovely family. My heart is really sad today to learn all of this. — Freeman Stamper
Dr. Robert Stewart Jason, 82, a retired dean of the Howard University College of Medicine who helped coordinate the plans and design of the new Howard University Hospital, died of Alzheimer's disease April 6 at his home in New York City.
Dr. Jason was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, where his father was a Presbyterian missionary. He graduated from Lincoln University with a bachelor's degree in 1924 and took his medical degree at Howard University in 1928. He earned a doctorate in pathology from the University of Chicago in 1932.
Dr. Jason was head of pathology at the Howard medical school before he became dean in 1955. From 1965 to 1970, he coordinated the development of the new hospital.
He retired in 1970 and lived in San Diego before moving to New York in 1979.
Dr. Jason was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and received its Distinguished Service Award in 1968. He also had served on the National Advisory Council on Education for Health Professions. He was a member of the National Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Association of Pathologists.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth, a daughter, Jeanne Elizabeth Wright, and a son, Dr. Robert Jr., all of New York City; a brother, Dr. Howard McLean Jason of Savannah, Ga., and four sisters, Susan Blockson of Sewickley, Pa., Lillie Bell of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Grace Perry of Hampton, Va., and Juanita Hollis of Augusta, Ga.
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Dr. Robert Stewart Jason, dean emeritus of the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, died last Friday at his home in Manhattan after a long illness. He was 82 years old.
Dr. Jason graduated cum laude from the College of Medicine in 1928 and received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1932. He was a professor and head of the department of pathology at the college before becoming dean in 1955. Dr. Jason, who coordinated the development of the Howard University Hospital and Medical Center, became dean emeritus in 1965 and professor emeritus five years later.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter, Mrs. Jeanne Elizabeth Wright; a son, Dr. Robert Stewart Jason Jr., all of New York City; a brother, Dr. Howard McLean Jason, of Savannah; four sisters, Mrs. Susan Blockson, of Sewickley, Penn.; Lillie Bell Jason, of Ponce, Puerto Rico; Mrs. Grace Perry, of Hampton, Va., and Mrs. Juanita Hollis, of Augusta, Ga.
A memorial service will be held at 1 P.M. April 28 at St. James Presbyterian Church, 409 West 141st Street.
TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
About the Archive
This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them.
Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions.
Dr. Robert Stewart Jason, dean emeritus of the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, died last Friday at his home in Manhattan after a long illness. He was 82 years old.
Dr. Jason graduated cum laude from the College of Medicine in 1928 and received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1932. He was a professor and head of the department of pathology at the college before becoming dean in 1955. Dr. Jason, who coordinated the development of the Howard University Hospital and Medical Center, became dean emeritus in 1965 and professor emeritus five years later.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter, Mrs. Jeanne Elizabeth Wright; a son, Dr. Robert Stewart Jason Jr., all of New York City; a brother, Dr. Howard McLean Jason, of Savannah; four sisters, Mrs. Susan Blockson, of Sewickley, Penn.; Lillie Bell Jason, of Ponce, Puerto Rico; Mrs. Grace Perry, of Hampton, Va., and Mrs. Juanita Hollis, of Augusta, Ga.
A memorial service will be held at 1 P.M. April 28 at St. James Presbyterian Church, 409 West 141st Street.88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Dr. Robert Stewart Jason, dean emeritus of the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, died last Friday at his home in Manhattan after a long illness. He was 82 years old.
Dr. Jason graduated cum laude from the [Howard University] College of Medicine in 1928 and received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1932. He was a professor and head of the department of pathology at the college [Howard] before becoming dean in 1955 [the first alumnus to hold this position]. Dr. Jason, who coordinated the development of the Howard University Hospital and Medical Center, became dean emeritus in 1965 and professor emeritus five years later.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter, Mrs. Jeanne Elizabeth Wright; a son, Dr. Robert Stewart Jason Jr., all of New York City; a brother, Dr. Howard McLean Jason, of Savannah; four sisters, Mrs. Susan Blockson, of Sewickley, Penn.; Lillie Bell Jason, of Ponce, Puerto Rico; Mrs. Grace Perry, of Hampton, Va., and Mrs. Juanita Hollis, of Augusta, Ga.
A memorial service will be held at 1 P.M. April 28 at St. James Presbyterian Church, 409 West 141st Street.
New York Times; April 13, 1984 ************************************ Robert S. Jason was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in pathology. Jason had a medical degree as well and served as head of the department of pathology at Howard University and later as dean of its college of medicine. During his last years at Howard, he was coordinator for design and planning of its new University Hospital. In recognition of his many contributions to the university, the department of pathology at Howard's College of Medicine established in 1967 the Robert S. Jason Award in Pathology.
Robert Stewart Jason was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on November 29, 1901. He was the son of Reverend Howard Talbot Jason, a Presbyterian missionary who was originally from Maryland, and his missionary wife, Lena B. (Wright) Jason. After attending local schools in Corozal, Puerto Rico and graduating from the Polytechnic Institute of San German, Puerto Rico, Jason entered Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and received his B.A. degree in 1924. He then attended the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and was awarded his M.D. degree in 1928. From the local schools of Puerto Rico through college and medical school, Jason was regularly ranked first in his class. In1929 he completed his internship at Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C.,and chose to continue his studies at the University of Chicago, where he was awarded his Ph.D. in pathology in 1932.
During that time, Jason joined the medical faculty at Howard's College of Medicine as an assistant professor of pathology. In 1934 he became associate professor and acting head of the department of pathology, and, by 1937, he was the department head and a full professor as well. He then served as vice dean of the college of medicine from 1946 to 1953, and as dean from 1955 to 1965.In that year he took on a new position as coordinator for the design and planning stages of a new facility to replace Howard's old Freedman's Hospital. He retired as professor emeritus in 1970 and lived in San Diego, California, before moving to New York City in 1979. As a pathologist, he was concerned with the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues, and organs caused by disease, and he focused specifically during his research career on the pathology of syphilis and tuberculosis. As department head and dean, he ran an extremely efficient operation, and these same skills were used to plan and organize Howard's new hospital.
Besides research, teaching, and administration, Jason held many professional appointments. He was a consultant in pathology to the National Institutes of Health from 1955 to 1970, consultant to the Veterans Administration Hospital from 1960 to 1970, member of the International Committee on Health of the Agency for International Development, and member of the National Advisory Council on Education for the Health Professions from 1964 to 1968. Jason also received several honors and awards during his long career. Besides two honorary doctorates and several awards from Howard University, he received the Professional Achievement Award given by the University of Chicago Alumni Association in 1970 and the Distinguished Service Award of the National Medical Association in 1969. Jason considered the most significant honor he received to be Howard University's College of Medicine naming an award after him in 1967. According to the Journal of the National Medical Association, "it is presented to a graduating student chosen on the basis of distinguished scholastic achievements, demonstrated interest in fundamental aspects of disease, integrity, self-discipline, and compassion, attributes common to the recipient and Dr. Robert S. Jason."
Jason was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society as well as a member of the American Medical Association, the American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists, and the International Academy of Pathologists. He was also a fellow of the College of American Pathologists and belonged to Alpha Omega Alpha (a national medical honor society), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Alpha Pi Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
Jason died of Alzheimer's disease at his home in New York City on April 6, 1984. He was survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth Gaddis, a daughter, Mrs. Jean Elizabeth Wright, a son, Robert S. Jason, Jr. M.D., and one brother and four sisters.
Dr. Robert Stewart Jason, 82, a retired dean of the Howard University College of Medicine who helped coordinate the plans and design of the new Howard University Hospital, died of Alzheimer's disease April 6 at his home in New York City.
Dr. Jason was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, where his father was a Presbyterian missionary. He graduated from Lincoln University with a bachelor's degree in 1924 and took his medical degree at Howard University in 1928. He earned a doctorate in pathology from the University of Chicago in 1932.
Dr. Jason was head of pathology at the Howard medical school before he became dean in 1955. From 1965 to 1970, he coordinated the development of the new hospital.
He retired in 1970 and lived in San Diego before moving to New York in 1979.
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Dr. Jason was a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and received its Distinguished Service Award in 1968. He also had served on the National Advisory Council on Education for Health Professions. He was a member of the National Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Association of Pathologists.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth, a daughter, Jeanne Elizabeth Wright, and a son, Dr. Robert Jr., all of New York City; a brother, Dr. Howard McLean Jason of Savannah, Ga., and four sisters, Susan Blockson of Sewickley, Pa., Lillie Bell of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Grace Perry of Hampton, Va., and Juanita Hollis of Augusta, Ga.
TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
About the Archive
This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them.
Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions.
Dr. Robert Stewart Jason, dean emeritus of the Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, died last Friday at his home in Manhattan after a long illness. He was 82 years old.
Dr. Jason graduated cum laude from the College of Medicine in 1928 and received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1932. He was a professor and head of the department of pathology at the college before becoming dean in 1955. Dr. Jason, who coordinated the development of the Howard University Hospital and Medical Center, became dean emeritus in 1965 and professor emeritus five years later.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter, Mrs. Jeanne Elizabeth Wright; a son, Dr. Robert Stewart Jason Jr., all of New York City; a brother, Dr. Howard McLean Jason, of Savannah; four sisters, Mrs. Susan Blockson, of Sewickley, Penn.; Lillie Bell Jason, of Ponce, Puerto Rico; Mrs. Grace Perry, of Hampton, Va., and Mrs. Juanita Hollis, of Augusta, Ga.
A memorial service will be held at 1 P.M. April 28 at St. James Presbyterian Church, 409 West 141st Street.
