Edward D. Jacks, 86
Highland Park accountant loved flying
March 25, 2002 | By Sean D. Hamill,
Chicago Tribune staff reporter.
With World War II approaching in 1940, Highland Park accountant Edward D. Jacks applied for a Navy commission in hopes of becoming a fighter pilot. But his commission was turned down, so he continued working as a civilian, crafting budgets for military projects. The fact that he didn’t join the Navy “was frustrating to him,” but after the war, still driven by a love of flying, Mr. Jacks earned his pilot’s license, his son Jerry said. Mr. Jacks, 86, died Tuesday, March 12, at Westmoreland Nursing Home in Lake Forest after complications from Parkinson’s disease, one month after Helen, his wife of 61 years, died. Mr. Jacks, who owned several small airplanes, melded his hobby with his accounting career, flying to see clients nationwide. Mr. Jacks was born and raised in Highland Park, where his father was a pediatrician. He grew up with a fascination for flying and for motorcycles, a passion he would also pursue for the rest of his life. Four years ago, his son put a sidecar on Mr. Jacks’ motorcycle so he could still ride after his illness began to sap his strength.
Mr. Jacks received his accounting degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., and in the late 1930s joined a firm that worked for the federal government. In 1942 his family moved to Lake Forest, where in 1951 he opened his own accounting firm. “Part of the reason he did a lot of flying was so he could be home with his family,” said his son, a pilot and a partner in his father’s firm. Focusing on closely held or family-owned companies, Mr. Jacks’ firm developed a national reputation. “Eddy Jacks was the guy we leaned on to handle our accounting,” said Harvey Gossell, a former printing company executive. “Early on, the day before the taxes were due, I’d be over at his house, with all of our documents spread all over his king-size bed. We’d sweat it out, but we’d always make it.”
Mr. Jacks was a Lake Forest alderman for one term in the 1950s, president of the local PTA and a part-time Lake County deputy sheriff. He retired from his firm five years ago, his son said. Other survivors include two sons, Edward and Robert; a daughter, Nancy Cummings; a brother, John; a sister, Lelia Harris; six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Services have been held.
Edward married Helen Marie. Helen was born on 4 Nov 1921; died on 11 Feb 2002 in Lake Forest, Lake, Illinois; was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, Cook, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]