In Memoriam - Reggie Jackson 1926 - 2005

IN MEMORIAM - Reggie Jackson, my teacher, my friend, passed away on Thursday morning, Sept. 15th, 2005 in New Haven CT. Please see the memorial article in the T'ai Chi Magazine Vol 29 issue 6 -2005.
I will miss him.

The following article says it all:

T’ai Chi Teacher Honored
The Many Worlds of Reggie Jackson

On May 16th,2003 Reggie Jackson, a 30 year Tai Chi instructor in the New Haven CT area, was recognized for his contributions to the worlds of T’ai Chi Ch’uan, Music, and Photography. Among his many friends, family, and students were colleagues from the T’ai Chi world and the Jazz music scene in New Haven CT.
The event was organized by his former student, Tim Regan and colleague, Ron Caruso, both of western Connecticut.

Reggie started his training with Da Liu(see TC Mag vol 24 #5), and then under BP Chan(see TC Mag vol 26 #3), both in New York City. He then studied with Grandmaster William CC Chen until the fall of 2002 when a tumor on his spine affected the use of his legs.

The New Haven Colony Historical Society, located close to the Yale University campus, hosted the event under the auspices of The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, with a collection of Reggie’s photographic work documenting the Duke Ellington Fellowship series of jazz concerts starting in 1972.

Reggie’s photo’s of such great performers as, Dizzy Gillespie, Slam Stewart, Charles Mingus and Dave Brubeck, mingled with others taken of the local area, along with original artwork designed for Yale and area businesses and organizations.

The ceremony opened by some of The Governor’s Footguard Band with whom Reggie did a flawless drum solo. Then local jazz veteran, Willie Ruff, whom Reggie has known for over 40 years, spoke at length about his memories of their friendship. Willie had played with Lionel Hampton’s band and has been in the longest performing jazz duo, The Dwight Mitchel Duo for many years. He is now paired up with a 13year old ingénue, named Christian Sands.

Tim Regan, a former student, painter, musician and now T’ai Chi instructor in western Connecticut, played blues guitar and sang a few tunes to the enjoyment of the packed room. Then the Willie Ruff/Christian Sands Duo with a surprise singer, Reggie’s great niece, Kim Nalley treated the audience to some great classic pieces such as "Route 66” with Willie on French horn, and Christian on keyboards.

Stephen Watson, a New Haven area T’ai Chi Instructor gave a great Chen style T’ai Chi Form performance rounding out the night. Grandmaster William CC Chen arrived just before guests were ready to leave, being slowed up by Friday night rush hour traffic coming from New York City. He arrived with his son Max and greeted Reggie, his old friend and student. Master Chen gave an impromptu speech on Chi, breathing and Breath which was the subject of his article on that very subject, just out on the magazine stands that day.

The Many Worlds of Reggie Jackson, as the night was dubbed, was truly a representation of a man of many talents and of many friends. I started studying with Reggie in January of 1978 for a period of six years and I can remember him driving to New York City just about every weekend to study with Da Liu, becoming a senior student along with Ron Caruso. I can safely say that Reggie’s dedication and passion for T’ai Chi and Taoist philosophy was my founding inspiration for continuing to practice and study T’ai Chi Ch’uan for the past 25 years.

The author, Brian Bruning, is a student and instructor at The Rochester T’ai Chi Ch’uan Center of Rochester NY.