I had the biggest crush on Jack in the 5th grade at Spring Park Elementary. He didn't even know I existed. He was way out of my league in the "brains" department.
Jack and I were friends from early Sunday School on. We even wound up walking down the graduation aisle together.
When I remarried 4 years ago, it turned out that my husband and much of his family were related to Jack--a strange coincidence. The world lost a great mind and a caring man when Jack met his untimely death so young.
Jack Fleet as I remember had not only " brains" but he to had a very dry sense of humor. Many people did not understand that he was equipped with a sense of the absurd because he always delivered his remarks in the form of a mumble. You had to be standing next to him or sitting near him to hear his remarks. The first time that I recognized his humor came after Mrs. Crutchfield tried to explain a problem to the class: "Dotcha see..... If "A" equals "B" and "A" and "B" = "C". Etc..... Then. .... Dotcha know.....Jack's retort ( under his breath) ehhhh. ". Now what is the original problem ?" Well... I would start laughing and of course ..... Mrs. Crutchfield would glare at me!
There were few people that looked good in glasses but Jack was the exception. I believed it enhanced his looks. I remembered seeing him just before graduation and thought to myself that he was going to be a "knockout" later in life. But much to my dismay and everyone else's he never had that opportunity: Jack was in a gym or a workout place and he was not " spotted" while he used the bar bell... Weight...... whatever. Jack was lying face up on the bench as he was lifting weights. His hand slipped, I believe, and the weights came down on his thorax and crushed it.
Yes, we lost a future doctor, lawyer, CEO, and most of all .... A fellow classmate that was loved by all.
Jack and I were good friends. We spent the night at each others house many times. I can still remember Jack and I working on chemistry experiments in his garage. We once set my kitchen on fire making rocket fuel in the oven. I was in the military when I heard of his accidental death. He would have been a great Doctor.
Jack and I would have study sessions together on waterman Road just off of the duck pond. Gail Grossman and Betty Ann Garden would also participate. Always great to have smart Jack in the group. Jack ultimately went to Duke undergraduate, but one day before he heard from Duke he came over to my house and panicked about college. He said, I only applied to three schools, something like Harvard, Yale and Duke, he was worried that he had no "safety" college application. I played a lot of touch football and basketball with Jack. In basketball he was a relentless defender, i can still feel his hands slapping my hands. Came from a great family. It was a shock that his life was cut short while he was a resident in Med School. We all miss and remember Jack, he made his mark.
I spoke with my brother Wayne's wife, Jan, who was good friends with Jack's sister, Adele.
I thought I should pass on Adele's kind return email in her own words about Jack's untimely death:
it is comforting to know that Jack's classmates are thinking about him. He graduated from Tulane Medical School in 1971 and moved to Los Angeles to begin his residency there. On October 11, 1971 he was lifting weights in an apartment complex workout room early in the morning. The barbell fell on his neck and sadly there was no one with him who could assist or call for help. It all happened very quickly as tragedies often do. I often think about his approach to life of "carpe diem", "not sweating the small stuff", and often saying, "you know, there are 24 hours in every day". And he surely lived by those mottos. Jack packed a lot of life into 26 years but his time on earth was much too short.
He would have been a wonderful doctor....what a loss for us all.
Jack and I became friends while we were at Hendricks Elementary. I clearly remember spending numerous days in his garage where he enjoyed staging various plays. Ed Mizrahi sometimes joined us. Jack was the writer, director, producer (with a little financial help from his wonderful parents), set designer, builder and principle actor. We helped as best we could, but it was Jack's show. He even had set changes and occasionally, one or 2 of his sisters would join us in the project. When it was Showtime, the neighborhood was invited. Unfortunately, I seldom saw him after we left Hendricks, as we belonged to different synagogues, different classes and eventually, different high schools. I was living in Orlando when the sad news came of his tragic and untimely death.
My information was that he was just a few months into his residency and had been taking medication to help keep him awake during his shifts. This, combined with the facts that he was not a large man phsically and that he was working out without a "spotter" all added up to a recipe for disaster.
I will always remember Jack for his intellect, sharp wit, and great sense of humor, but most especially, for his kindness. What a tragic loss.
My first cousin, Jack, lived each day to the fullest and undertook and each committment completing to the fullest. He lived life with a passion, but his unfortunately was cut all too short. He was talented, gifted and possessed untold wit and humor. I could always count on Jack and his attributes invaluable to me.
Jean Molter (Sprague)
I had the biggest crush on Jack in the 5th grade at Spring Park Elementary. He didn't even know I existed. He was way out of my league in the "brains" department.
Natalie Zadoff (Pepper)
Jack and I were friends from early Sunday School on. We even wound up walking down the graduation aisle together.
When I remarried 4 years ago, it turned out that my husband and much of his family were related to Jack--a strange coincidence. The world lost a great mind and a caring man when Jack met his untimely death so young.
Celeste (Judy) Graves (Hoyal)
Yes, there was always something very special about Jack Fleet! I wish I had known him better.
Didn't he attend Hendrick's Ave Elementary? How did he die?
Beverly Newcomer
Jack Fleet as I remember had not only " brains" but he to had a very dry sense of humor. Many people did not understand that he was equipped with a sense of the absurd because he always delivered his remarks in the form of a mumble. You had to be standing next to him or sitting near him to hear his remarks. The first time that I recognized his humor came after Mrs. Crutchfield tried to explain a problem to the class: "Dotcha see..... If "A" equals "B" and "A" and "B" = "C". Etc..... Then. .... Dotcha know.....Jack's retort ( under his breath) ehhhh. ". Now what is the original problem ?" Well... I would start laughing and of course ..... Mrs. Crutchfield would glare at me!
There were few people that looked good in glasses but Jack was the exception. I believed it enhanced his looks. I remembered seeing him just before graduation and thought to myself that he was going to be a "knockout" later in life. But much to my dismay and everyone else's he never had that opportunity: Jack was in a gym or a workout place and he was not " spotted" while he used the bar bell... Weight...... whatever. Jack was lying face up on the bench as he was lifting weights. His hand slipped, I believe, and the weights came down on his thorax and crushed it.
Yes, we lost a future doctor, lawyer, CEO, and most of all .... A fellow classmate that was loved by all.
Robbie Cohen
Jack and I were good friends. We spent the night at each others house many times. I can still remember Jack and I working on chemistry experiments in his garage. We once set my kitchen on fire making rocket fuel in the oven. I was in the military when I heard of his accidental death. He would have been a great Doctor.
Kenny Fink
Jack and I would have study sessions together on waterman Road just off of the duck pond. Gail Grossman and Betty Ann Garden would also participate. Always great to have smart Jack in the group. Jack ultimately went to Duke undergraduate, but one day before he heard from Duke he came over to my house and panicked about college. He said, I only applied to three schools, something like Harvard, Yale and Duke, he was worried that he had no "safety" college application. I played a lot of touch football and basketball with Jack. In basketball he was a relentless defender, i can still feel his hands slapping my hands. Came from a great family. It was a shock that his life was cut short while he was a resident in Med School. We all miss and remember Jack, he made his mark.
Ken Fink
Carol Perpall (Fortino)
I spoke with my brother Wayne's wife, Jan, who was good friends with Jack's sister, Adele.
I thought I should pass on Adele's kind return email in her own words about Jack's untimely death:
Randy Haas
Jack and I became friends while we were at Hendricks Elementary. I clearly remember spending numerous days in his garage where he enjoyed staging various plays. Ed Mizrahi sometimes joined us. Jack was the writer, director, producer (with a little financial help from his wonderful parents), set designer, builder and principle actor. We helped as best we could, but it was Jack's show. He even had set changes and occasionally, one or 2 of his sisters would join us in the project. When it was Showtime, the neighborhood was invited. Unfortunately, I seldom saw him after we left Hendricks, as we belonged to different synagogues, different classes and eventually, different high schools. I was living in Orlando when the sad news came of his tragic and untimely death.
My information was that he was just a few months into his residency and had been taking medication to help keep him awake during his shifts. This, combined with the facts that he was not a large man phsically and that he was working out without a "spotter" all added up to a recipe for disaster.
I will always remember Jack for his intellect, sharp wit, and great sense of humor, but most especially, for his kindness. What a tragic loss.
Randy Haas
Carole Fishler (Slonin)
My first cousin, Jack, lived each day to the fullest and undertook and each committment completing to the fullest. He lived life with a passion, but his unfortunately was cut all too short. He was talented, gifted and possessed untold wit and humor. I could always count on Jack and his attributes invaluable to me.