Please forgive the lengthy post, but as some of you know, I live in the Charlotte, NC area. Like many here, I thought about Jack many times this week and when they announced the memorial service, I thought that they're were probably hundreds of radio people across the country that would attend if they could, but for a variety of reasons wouldn't make it. Here I am, only a hundred miles away and I decided, "damn it, I'm going".
The service was held in the chapel at the funeral home. Probably, 60-70 people total. Most of the people were family - a brother, 3 daughters, some aunts, etc.
Most of the radio folks were locals. A gal that did mornings with him, some others from the station, some listeners that he had befriended, a young guy who was his flight instructor. Also, Bob Weiss who was one of the owners along with Norman Wain who owned WIXY 1260 and his son, Gary Weiss, who was the GM of the Oldies station that Jack worked for last in Greensboro.
Each of his 3 daughters spoke. It was apparent throughout the evening that Jack was a good father to them and raised them well.
All of the speakers remarked about his love and dedication to his daughters.
One thing one daughter mentioned was his spirituality. She said that while he didn't attend church, he read the Bible each night and prayed aloud.
Bob Weiss spoke of hiring Jack and bringing him to Cleveland in '66. "He took us from worst to first in three months".
A couple of folks remarked on his depression resulting from not being able to find another station that would hire him. One remarked that he "died of a broken heart". His daughter, Maggie, said that he was saddened by the death of radio.
The flight instructor said that he had no idea who Jack Armstrong was when he took him on as a student. (He's about 30). He claimed, at least in the beginning, Jack was probably a better deejay than he was a pilot.
His older brother, Bob told the story of how Jack had a friend visiting the family home and Jack was taking a shower.
His mom and the friend were discussing Jack and she asked what he thought about Jack. The guy described him as "unique". Just then, Jack leaves the shower unaware that the friend and his mom were in the living room and walks into the room buck naked except for his watch.
Jack when he realized the situation, stopped, turned and asked "how do you like my watch?". The friend turned to his mom and said "see what I mean, he's unique!"
David Fill, the webmaster of the WKBW tribute site attended. He drove up from Darlington, SC about a three hour drive. He remarked on getting to know Jack over the phone (never in person) while putting the KB site together and the support and encouragement that Jack provided.
I left the service with a very real sense that Jack was a standup guy in many ways. Strong-willed, sometimes hard to get along with, but honest, loving and caring with plenty of integrity.
The music played before the service, kind of set the mood, here are a few:
Play That Funky Music
Johnny B. Goode
You Dropped Da Bomb On Me
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
It was a wonderful 90 minutes paying tribute to truly one of America's greatest personalities who was loved and appreciated by thousands across the country...Jack Armstrong!
Larry White
The service was held in the chapel at the funeral home. Probably, 60-70 people total. Most of the people were family - a brother, 3 daughters, some aunts, etc.
Most of the radio folks were locals. A gal that did mornings with him, some others from the station, some listeners that he had befriended, a young guy who was his flight instructor. Also, Bob Weiss who was one of the owners along with Norman Wain who owned WIXY 1260 and his son, Gary Weiss, who was the GM of the Oldies station that Jack worked for last in Greensboro.
Each of his 3 daughters spoke. It was apparent throughout the evening that Jack was a good father to them and raised them well.
All of the speakers remarked about his love and dedication to his daughters.
One thing one daughter mentioned was his spirituality. She said that while he didn't attend church, he read the Bible each night and prayed aloud.
Bob Weiss spoke of hiring Jack and bringing him to Cleveland in '66. "He took us from worst to first in three months".
A couple of folks remarked on his depression resulting from not being able to find another station that would hire him. One remarked that he "died of a broken heart". His daughter, Maggie, said that he was saddened by the death of radio.
The flight instructor said that he had no idea who Jack Armstrong was when he took him on as a student. (He's about 30). He claimed, at least in the beginning, Jack was probably a better deejay than he was a pilot.
His older brother, Bob told the story of how Jack had a friend visiting the family home and Jack was taking a shower.
His mom and the friend were discussing Jack and she asked what he thought about Jack. The guy described him as "unique". Just then, Jack leaves the shower unaware that the friend and his mom were in the living room and walks into the room buck naked except for his watch.
Jack when he realized the situation, stopped, turned and asked "how do you like my watch?". The friend turned to his mom and said "see what I mean, he's unique!"
David Fill, the webmaster of the WKBW tribute site attended. He drove up from Darlington, SC about a three hour drive. He remarked on getting to know Jack over the phone (never in person) while putting the KB site together and the support and encouragement that Jack provided.
I left the service with a very real sense that Jack was a standup guy in many ways. Strong-willed, sometimes hard to get along with, but honest, loving and caring with plenty of integrity.
The music played before the service, kind of set the mood, here are a few:
Play That Funky Music
Johnny B. Goode
You Dropped Da Bomb On Me
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
It was a wonderful 90 minutes paying tribute to truly one of America's greatest personalities who was loved and appreciated by thousands across the country...Jack Armstrong!
Larry White