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We used to use that newsletter to promote events and the like at Bard. Very sad to hear he has passed away. - Amith On Sun, Jul 2, 2017 at 7:34 PM, Louis Proyect via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > ******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > ***************************************************************** > > (Jack was a long-time Marxmailer who used the list for publicizing his > Hudson Valley Newsletter.) > > Dear friends, > > It is my sad duty to inform you that Jack Smith, my life partner and the > creator and editor of the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter and Calendar, > has died. The announcement appears below. > > During Jack¹s long illness, managing the mailing list took a back seat to > doing the research and getting the articles out. If you know of other > movement people who should get this announcement, please pass it along. > > With thanks and solidarity, > > Donna Goodman > > >>>>>> > > Jack A. Smith, a journalist and progressive activist, died surrounded by > loved ones at his home in New Paltz, NY on June 29 from complications of > COPD. > > From 1963-1984, Jack worked at the influential leftist newspaper the > Guardian, as a writer and ultimately as editor. > > Jack was born in Queens, NY to a low income family in 1934 and he began > working full time at 16, attending night school to get his high school > diploma. Jack's first job as a journalist was at United Press International > as a copy boy and wire editor, then news writer. > > Jack came of age politically as a radical pacifist in his early 20s. At 26 > years old, in 1961, in opposition to rumors that the United States might > intervene militarily in Viet Nam and against the Cold War nuclear build up, > Jack returned his draft card to Selective Service, defying the law by which > young men were required to carry the cards on their person at all times. > Though Jack was overage for the draft and had two young children, he was > drafted and when he refused to serve he was indicted and convicted and > served time in federal prison. After his release from prison, unable to > find work at most newspapers because of his political views, he found a job > as a writer at the National Guardian where he remained for 21 years, moving > from writer to news editor to the paper's editor over a few years > > Under Jack's leadership the Guardian built on a tradition of excellent > reporting on foreign policy with expanded coverage of the political > movements of the 60s and 70s and the best coverage of the Vietnam War from > a left Perspective. > > After leaving the Guardian Jack remained politically active through > retirement and until the last months of his life, organizing demonstrations > and political meetings along with his wife Donna Goodman. A committed > socialist and Marxist, Jack was a member of Workers World Party and then > Party for Socialism and liberation. > > In his retirement, Jack created and edited the Hudson Valley Activist > Newsletter and Calendar. The Newsletter offered a left analysis of current > events, and the Calendar announced local progressive activism. Over the > years this online publication reached thousands of subscribers every month, > and Jack's long form articles were picked up by many > progressive on-line news outlets. > > Along with his career as a writer and editor, Jack was an avid camper, > hiker and cyclist, a lover of music and reading, and, in his healthier > years, a good martini. Jack was an animal lover and vegetarian from the age > of twelve. He was also a brother, a father, an uncle, a grandpa, and a > devoted husband to Donna. Jack will be remembered not only for his quest > for justice but also for his hearty sense of humor and his zest for life. > > Jack is survived by Donna, his partner of 33 years, his sister Dorothea > Smith, his daughters and step-daughters: Malissa Smith, Tamar Smith, Laurie > Davidson, and Leila Nichols; son Kirk Smith; sons-in-law: Jed Stevenson, > Dan Loomis, Charlie Bengs and Michael Golub; his niece and nephew Lori > Becker and Jon Becker, their children Nick Monico and Sarah Becker; and his > seven wonderful grandchildren: Isabella Stevenson, Sophia Smith-Golub, > Ariel Smith-Golub, Killian Bengs, Asa Bengs, Dylan Loomis and Finn Loomis. > He was very loved and he will be missed. > > His family wishes to express its deep appreciation to Hudson Valley > Hospice. > > A memorial will take place in September in New Paltz and will be announced > shortly. > > _________________________________________________________ > Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm > Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/opt > ions/marxism/amithrgupta%40gmail.com _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
