Jack Gillespie
always had my nose in a book,” says Jack Gillespie. “I learned to read early when I was a child and I always loved to write, playing with words.”

Gillespie’s love for language grew into mastery of the written word and a lifetime of helping others write and communicate better. Earning a ’63 bachelor’s and ’69 master’s degree from GSC, he taught English and journalism at Bridgeton High School. He joined his alma mater’s community relations staff in 1969.

Gillespie’s next post was as assistant managing editor at The Gloucester County Times, where he also supervised GSC’s first journalism interns. The challenge of editing a daily paper enriched his expertise and would later benefit the students in his graduate and undergraduate writing classes. He taught with a well-respected mix of authority and kindness which helped students appreciate his exacting standards and his gentle but emphatic encouragement to “tighten” their writing.

It also helped that Gillespie deferred to his dog on many matters of writing style and evaluations—and it left many students wondering about the critiquing canine. He’d blame the dog for grading papers harshly and chide students for grammar errors that bothered his furry colleague. “I don’t recall how or why I started blaming everything on my dog,” Gillespie said. “I’ve always believed in using humor as a device to help students see their errors without destroying their confidence.”

Gillespie said he was fortunate in the early ’80s to join colleagues Don Bagin, Frank Grazian, Tony Fulginiti, Don Gallagher and Bruce Bradway in publishing communication briefings, a monthly business communication newsletter. The group also did workshops and produced training videos. The company grew and eventually Gillespie decided to leave the college and work full time in the business. He eventually became editor of communication briefings, a post he held until January 2000. “What I loved most about writing for briefings,” Gillespie said, “was the challenge of reducing topics to their shortest but most informative length. I guess I was following the advice I gave all my students: tighten your writing.”

Retired from Rowan since 1992, Gillespie still writes and edits, now for non-profit groups such as The Word Among Us, an ecumenical publisher. His most recent project is a calendar with a quote from Pope John Paul II for each day.

The Hammonton native also builds furniture, volunteers and travels with his wife, Mary. Their most recent trip to Italy brings the total to seven or eight, he says. “It’s interesting how busy you can be when you’re supposed to be retired,” he muses.

“I don’t know if it’s genetic,” Gillespie noted, “but both of my children, Beth and Jack, are excellent writers. And my oldest grandson, Max, loves to read. He and his brother, Dan, spend a lot of time building with Legos, so I’m hoping that maybe they’ll get interested in building furniture. And even Jake, my three-month-old grandson, already enjoys being read to. But I’m going to hold off for now on teaching him to tighten his writing.”

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Alumni can honor retired faculty by donating to a scholarship fund and other investment. Call Anne Hagan at 856-256-5402 or visit the Rowan University Foundation.