In Praise of Jack
We invite you to celebrate Jack Stark with a memory or tribute by emailing Communications@cmc.edu. The College will compile these to share in the days and months ahead.
“Jack is an icon. Throughout his 29-year presidency, he set the leadership tone and guided the strategy that continues to influence the College today. Among his stellar accomplishments: Launching the Athenaeum, establishing our research institutes and centers, and leading CMC to become co-educational. His impact upon CMC has been profound.”
— Ken Valach ’82, chair of CMC Board
of Trustees
“The real impact of a college presidency is seen and felt 30 years later. Just look into the hearts and minds of our alumni, the quality of our teacher-scholars, the life-altering leadership experiences of our students in the powerful programs he created, and you will see the rock solid foundations, the newly cut paths, the family of relationships that Jack and Jil forged, well before President Gann and I followed in their large footsteps. This is the Stark foundation of three decades upon which we have built such extraordinary excitement and achievement today.”
— Hiram E. Chodosh, CMC President
“Jack, what great news about you turning 90. Can’t be true, but I know it is. So happy to have called you a friend since I set foot on the CMC campus in the fall of 1954. You’ve become a legend at CMC, but that cute little wife of yours might have had something to do with that. We send our congratulations and warmest wishes.”
— John ’58 P’90 and Barbara Poer P’90
“Every time I use my Jack Stark crafted walking stick—which is almost every day—I receive compliments on the beautiful walking stick. It’s always a pleasure to tell them how it came to be created and who was responsible and why. Happy Birthday, Jack, with all best wishes.”
— Bernie Marshall ’57
President Emeritus Jack Stark ’57 GP’11, who served at the helm of Claremont McKenna for 29 years before retiring in 1999, is celebrating his 90th birthday this week with family and friends at his second home—the CMC campus.
Students spent the week signing birthday cards, while alumni and colleagues sent tributes, all leading to family and friends descending upon Claremont to fete Stark during a celebration at ImpactCMC Weekend.
“What do I have to say about turning 90 years old? Well, I don’t hear as well, I don’t see as well, and my balance is not what it used to be,” Stark said with a chuckle. “On the other hand, I am generally very healthy and very, very happy. I consider myself to be very lucky to be surrounded by my terrific family and many good friends. I am upbeat and optimistically looking forward to every new day.”
Stark made a lasting impact on students who attended CMC under his leadership. Karl Graeber ’69 P’04 fondly remembers how Stark lent support to students in both big and small ways.
“Jack has had a lasting impact on my life in a way that I am not sure he appreciates,” said Graeber. “In 1966 when I was a frosh, six of us qualified for the swimming nationals but the College had never sent anyone previously. Somehow, Jack found the funds to pay for our airfare (we paid the rest) and we took sixth place in the NAIAs. The following year, Jack found a bit more money, and CMC won its first national sports title.”
In his 29 years as president, Stark grew the College both reputationally and financially. Under his leadership, the College’s endowment grew 45-fold; admissions became highly selective; research institutes and the beloved Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum were launched; and hallmark programs, such as study abroad and Washington, D.C., were established.
Among Stark’s proudest accomplishments was overseeing the College vote to admit the first class of women in 1975. “My idea of good leadership is projecting the future and getting your people prepared to meet the challenges along with you,” he said.
Through it all, Stark’s wife and partner Jil (Harris) Stark GP’11 was by his side. A 1958 Scripps College graduate, honorary CMC alumna, and former Director of the Ath, Jil was—and still is—Jack Stark’s biggest confidant and cheerleader.
“My partnership with Jil was the key to any bit of success I had at CMC during my presidency,” Jack said.
CMC President Hiram Chodosh said Stark laid the groundwork for both his presidency and former President Pamela Gann, who was named president when Stark retired.
“The real impact of a college presidency is seen and felt 30 years later,” said President Chodosh. “Just look into the hearts and minds of our alumni, the quality of our teacher-scholars, the life-altering leadership experiences of our students in the powerful programs he created, and you will see the rock-solid foundations, the newly cut paths, the family of relationships that Jack and Jil forged, well before President Gann and I followed in their large footsteps. This is the Stark foundation of three decades upon which we have built such extraordinary excitement and achievement today.”
As a father of four children (and today grandfather and great-grandfather of 11), Stark knew how to relate to students and have fun, even as president.
Don Waddell ’73, a sophomore living in Boswell Hall when Stark was named president of CMC, remembers Stark getting caught in the middle of a water balloon fight.
“Boswell had hosted a party for all, and we invited President Stark to join us,” said Waddell. “He (came) and the party progressed and somehow became a water balloon fight dorm to dorm. Jack was caught in the crossfire and took a balloon to the head. Stunned a bit, Jack shook it off and found his own balloon and joined the fight! He was, I guess, 37 at the time and full of fun and energy.”
Read the full profile of Stark from the Fall 2024 CMC Magazine.