Today's Featured Biography

 
Jarrell Jackman

61 to 63 Glendale college
63 Salzburg Sommerschule, studied German in Mozartstadt. Went to concert conducted by Karajan. Didn't know who he was. My musicological knowledge at that point in my life began and ended w Bill Haley and the Comets.
63 to 66 UCLA. BA in German.
66 graduated in January, spent most of year in Europe. Taught English in Vienna, lived in second district, former Russian zone, remember The Third Man? Great movie. Crossed over into commie Slovakia to visit Jochmann relatives, first Jochmann (my father changed his name to Jackman) to return to old country in over 50 years.
67 ad salesman LA Times
68 married Michele, Marshall HS 62. Class valedictorian. She had scholarship to Stanford and chose UC Davis instead. Was elected gov at Girls State. Lost election for prez at Girls Nation. Met JFK.
69 JJ MA American Studies at cal state LA
70 to 74 doctoral program in history at UCSB.
71 daughter Renee born. Her two daughters born in
same room at Goleta Valley Hospital. Obviously much later.
74 to 78 German academic exchange fellowship to finish dissertation. Taught three years in Germany for U of Maryland, European Division.
78 to 80 Washington DC Michele in pentagon. JJ delivers paper at Smithsonian. Later edits Smithsonian volume the Muses Flee Hitler, his 15 minutes of fame as book is reviewed on front page of many book review
sections, Wash Post, LA and NY Times.
81 to 2015 director SB Trust for historic Preservation. In 81 Joanne Pratt sees my picture in paper, calls me and finally confesses that maybe I deserve a second look. Trust to receive top organizational award at
National Trust annual conference in October.
2010 returned to visit relatives in Slovakia. Met 65 cousins, women mostly professionals--pediatrician, civil engineer, economist. Men mostly in commercial real estate, which makes sense as Slovakia privatizes land ownership.
Jackmans celebrating 43rd on Sept 7. Michele's and my father have same birthday, Sept 11. My son in law Dana and I share same birthday of Walt Disney, Dec. 5.
Have three grandchildren, who live here in SB: India 6, Paloma 4, and Zane, six months.

on December 5, 2015, my birthday, King Felipe VI of Spain names JJ Commander, Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic in recognition of contributions to preserving and interpreting the History of Spain in CA.

February 2016, CA Missions Foundation presents Chairman's Award to JJ for his contributions to the preservation and interpretation of Hispanic History of CA.

Upcoming October 2016, CA State Parks Ranger Association names JJ Honorary Ranger of the Year for his service to CA State Parks. JJ will receive his hat at the annual CSPRA conference in Morro Bay.

What's left to do? Now fully retired from Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation as of June 30, 2016. Currently working on bio of
Thomas Mann's LA years, and a bio of Norman Neuerburg, the man who designed the Getty villa: Title of project: The Price of Genius, NN and the Creation of the Getty Villa.

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES