Benjamin Armstrong Jackson started at Graded in the 1st grade and then transfered to Chapel in the 4th grade due to a dispute with a certain teacher! He too was "asked to leave" Chapel and then went back to Graded for his Junior and Senior year. After graduation he went to California and earned a degree at Monterey Peninsula College and eventually returned to Sao Paulo in the 80’s. He passed away there after a brief illness in 1995. He was drawn to literature, writing and drama which he considered pursuing. He had a large circle of friends and was always at the center of the party whether it was out at his family’s chacara or out about town. He was a wonderful guy, a solid friend and a true gentleman.
The Jacksons were a very interesting family. Ben has a wonderful sister Mirim (67) who I hope will chime in soon. Both she and her mother Edwina, Aunt Teddy were champion equestrians. They founded the Dalmatian Club in Brazil. They lived in a lovely place, a huge house full of books, art and music. Late nights with Ben's parents often were spent listening to Miles Davis and then on to readings of Dylan Thomas and other poets.
Ben's grandfather, Ben Hecht for whom he was named, was the first writer ever to receive an Oscar for an original screenplay. He wrote and or worked on almost 100 screenplays such as Scarface, Some Like It Hot, Gone With The Wind, His Girl Friday, Spellbound, Notorious, Rope and Mutiny On The Bounty. His aunt was Jenny Hecht who was a member of the avant guard Living Theater who famously came to Brazil around 1970 and staged multi-day long performance pieces all over Minas Geraes for which they were repeatedly arrested for. Im proud to say that Ben's mother was a secret contributor under a nom de plume who shared editorial advice to many issues of underground newspapers we published at Chapel and Graded.
I will always remember Ben from all the great times we had at the family chacara. martin penrose also lived out there. i will never forget tripping in the woods with he martin mark andy the penrose's and all the other hippies as the doors jimmy hendrix etc played on the outdoors speakers. anyone remember the party at the stables where martin lived when jimmy hendrix died WOW!I really thought we would never have survived. we smoked soooo much pot at Ben's house it is a miracle I can remember anything!RIP my friend.steve smith.
I knew Ben and his parents since I was a child. Our families were friends.
In the late 60's an excursion out to the Jackson "Chacara" was a long trip, beyond Interlagos on a winding dirt road through unknown neighborhoods, up a red clay hill, through towering eucalyptus trees, barking dogs and past "The Stables". (see Steve's comments about residents.
During his teen years, Ben's mother was chronically ill with a serious back condition. Ben took care of her and endured all with graciousness, dignity and fortitude. I remember his mothers funeral; unable to imagine the grief he was experiencing.
It was with great sadness that I learned about his death through the grape vine. Last time I saw him was at the Lei Seca. Life is short.
A cultured man, an eternal and trusted friend and a great spirit.
I met Ben when I was waiting for the Graded school bus one morning in Santo Amaro. He convinced me to skip school that day and go out and spend time with the Living Theatre group who was camped out in a house in Sao Paulo. He introduced me the Julian Beck and Judith Malina who I ended up spending the day with. What a time! I was incredibly fond of Ben, his sweet, gentle, peaceful nature. RIP buddy.
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Mark McDonnell (1972)
Benjamin Armstrong Jackson started at Graded in the 1st grade and then transfered to Chapel in the 4th grade due to a dispute with a certain teacher! He too was "asked to leave" Chapel and then went back to Graded for his Junior and Senior year. After graduation he went to California and earned a degree at Monterey Peninsula College and eventually returned to Sao Paulo in the 80’s. He passed away there after a brief illness in 1995. He was drawn to literature, writing and drama which he considered pursuing. He had a large circle of friends and was always at the center of the party whether it was out at his family’s chacara or out about town. He was a wonderful guy, a solid friend and a true gentleman.The Jacksons were a very interesting family. Ben has a wonderful sister Mirim (67) who I hope will chime in soon. Both she and her mother Edwina, Aunt Teddy were champion equestrians. They founded the Dalmatian Club in Brazil. They lived in a lovely place, a huge house full of books, art and music. Late nights with Ben's parents often were spent listening to Miles Davis and then on to readings of Dylan Thomas and other poets.
Ben's grandfather, Ben Hecht for whom he was named, was the first writer ever to receive an Oscar for an original screenplay. He wrote and or worked on almost 100 screenplays such as Scarface, Some Like It Hot, Gone With The Wind, His Girl Friday, Spellbound, Notorious, Rope and Mutiny On The Bounty. His aunt was Jenny Hecht who was a member of the avant guard Living Theater who famously came to Brazil around 1970 and staged multi-day long performance pieces all over Minas Geraes for which they were repeatedly arrested for. Im proud to say that Ben's mother was a secret contributor under a nom de plume who shared editorial advice to many issues of underground newspapers we published at Chapel and Graded.
Steve Smith (1971)
I will always remember Ben from all the great times we had at the family chacara. martin penrose also lived out there. i will never forget tripping in the woods with he martin mark andy the penrose's and all the other hippies as the doors jimmy hendrix etc played on the outdoors speakers. anyone remember the party at the stables where martin lived when jimmy hendrix died WOW!I really thought we would never have survived. we smoked soooo much pot at Ben's house it is a miracle I can remember anything!RIP my friend.steve smith.David Sage (1973)
I knew Ben and his parents since I was a child. Our families were friends.In the late 60's an excursion out to the Jackson "Chacara" was a long trip, beyond Interlagos on a winding dirt road through unknown neighborhoods, up a red clay hill, through towering eucalyptus trees, barking dogs and past "The Stables". (see Steve's comments about residents.
During his teen years, Ben's mother was chronically ill with a serious back condition. Ben took care of her and endured all with graciousness, dignity and fortitude. I remember his mothers funeral; unable to imagine the grief he was experiencing.
It was with great sadness that I learned about his death through the grape vine. Last time I saw him was at the Lei Seca. Life is short.
A cultured man, an eternal and trusted friend and a great spirit.
I miss him.
Helen Esther Moon (Morosov) (1972)
Saudades....Mark Prior (1974)
I met Ben when I was waiting for the Graded school bus one morning in Santo Amaro. He convinced me to skip school that day and go out and spend time with the Living Theatre group who was camped out in a house in Sao Paulo. He introduced me the Julian Beck and Judith Malina who I ended up spending the day with. What a time! I was incredibly fond of Ben, his sweet, gentle, peaceful nature. RIP buddy.