1940 - 2008

COLLEGE HILL - Founder of the Acoustic Chamber Jazz Series as well as its producer from 1990-2008, David L. Jackson also helped establish the Linton Chamber Music Series and the Cincinnati Men's Chorus.

Mr. Jackson died Dec. 25 at his home in College Hill. He was 68.

A member of First Unitarian Church in Avondale for 60 years, he served as music director from 1970 to 2003 and later as emeritus minister of music. He also served as finance chair, canvass chair, board trustee and board vice president of the church.

"David's passion, his great talents, are part of what brought me to my church home at First Church," said Susan Christy, a member. "The strength of his musical vision connected the worship experience with the joy and the power of creating a gift of music. Many Sunday mornings, what he brought forth from our choir seemed to take root in my chest, and connect me to my faith in a way words could not."

Mr. Jackson grew up in Carthage. He earned bachelor's degrees in piano/voice and music education in 1963 from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. From 1963-66, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He returned to CCM and earned a master's degree in conducting in 1970 and a doctorate in music theory in 1981.

Mr. Jackson taught music at Woodward High School from 1973 to '80 and was a private piano teacher for more than 25 years. He was a member of the Piano Technicians Guild.

Mr. Jackson was a music workshop leader at the Midwest Unitarian Universalist Annual Conference from 1981-83. At the Mountain Retreat and Learning Center in Highlands, N.C., he was a guest faculty member from 1984-89. He also served on a planning council of the Unitarian Universalist summer camp in Lake Geneva, Wis., and as a guest conductor at a number of United Universalist congregations throughout the United States.

A founding member of the national Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network, he served on the board from 1986-1990 and as the second national president from 1987-88. His travels included leading or co-leading First Unitarian Church choir members on tours of Europe in 1981, Australia in 1996, England in 2002 and Transylvania in 2004.

He produced four albums of vocals by his sister, Shelley Jackson Denhem of Highlands, N.C., as well as a CD by the Mountain Quartet on which his sister sings.

"David was a larger-than-life character with a deep sense of social justice and international goodwill, which he expressed through music, laughter and gourmet cooking," said Charlyn Jackson, his wife of 45 years.

Social activism included service as treasurer, 1984-85, of the Cincinnati chapter of the World Federalist Association, an international organization committed to peace; and as president and co-host of the national conference of the Campaign for United Nations Reform, 1986-87. He hosted visitors from the Soviet Union, Korea and Ukraine at the International Visitors Center, 1987-2006.

In addition to his wife and sister, survivors include another sister, Holly Pullis of Farmington, Conn.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at First Unitarian Church, Avondale, where recordings of his favorite music begin at 3:30 p.m.

Memorials can be made to the First Church Organ Restoration Fund, First Unitarian Church, 536 Linton St., Cincinnati, OH 45219; The Mountain Retreat and Learning Centers Inc., P.O. Box 1299, Highlands, NC 28741; or the Endowment Fund, Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network, c/o Donna Fisher, 2208 Henery Tuckers Court, Charlotte, NC 28270.