OBITUARY

Jack B. Schriber

JULY 6, 1945 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Walk down Broadway or Michigan Avenue, Washington Street in Indianapolis, or virtually anywhere in Evansville (and many other places, anywhere, besides) and you would likely see someone greet him as “Uncle Jack,” “Daddy Jack,” “Santa Jack,” “My Friend Jack,” or some other familiarity. The point is that Jack B. Schriber-who died, at 78, Friday, September 15 after a long battle with heart disease-was almost universally loved and admired by the many people who knew him both in our community or wherever and whenever they found him at home or away. “He was a very good and decent man,” said his trainer, a former student who had stayed in touch, who then added, “This is a terrible loss to the entire community.”

A graduate of Bosse and UE (BA and masters degree), a veteran, perpetual student both here and abroad, teacher of language arts and communications and Supervisor of Fine Arts in EVSC, occasionally an instructor at USI and UE, Jack was known both for his civic virtues and his commitment to young people and his efforts to help them flourish. As a teacher he taught speech and language arts and directed plays at Central High School. As Supervisor of Fine Arts, he nurtured and promoted all the arts in all the schools throughout the community and helped to establish the EVSC summer musical and was its Co-Producer for 25 years. When he retired from administration in 2014 he was asked to “unretire” by then Superintendent Bertram to work for the newly-founded EVSC Foundation because of his experience and because of his nearly encyclopedic knowledge of Evansville social history of nearly every family in town.

Also, he was a longtime advisor and creative servant leader in the community, especially a friend of the arts and artists, acting loyally on behalf of virtually every volunteer board in town-the Museum, the Philharmonic, UE Friends of Music, Friends of Art, Drama, USI Society for Arts and Humanities, Friends of the Victory Theatre, Chair of the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, Rotary and Leadership Evansville. As an extension of his talents, he was sometimes an author and a columnist for the Evansville Courier and Press. Also, he was a close friend and advisor to Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. He was a contributor of many state and national education-related projects, and a dedicated member of the Indiana Arts Commission. An avid and ecumenical student of religions as well as an active and loyal member of the congregation at First Presbyterian Church, Jack did not separate his civic and social talents from his responsibilities as a Christian.

In 2014 Jack received the Leadership Evansville Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009, he and his wife Sue were recognized for their lifetime achievements on Evansville’s behalf with the downtown Rotary Civic Award. He received a Sagamore of the Wabash-Indiana’s highest recognition for public service.

In all of his activities Jack was tied to his roots, loyal to Evansville, grateful, a friend to people of diverse interests and outlooks, determined to make a difference in the lives of others, most recently as a driver for Meals on Wheels and working for the Jacob Ball Wish Fund. As a friend and mentor, he worked hard to earn respect and pay respect. He was great at making the rest of us feel necessary and important and could find laughter in anything-even (or especially) if the joke was on himself. “This is a terrible loss,” as his trainer said.

Jack proudly served in the United States Army.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Phyllis Flickner; aunts, LaVon Stone and Mildred Dossett; and grandson, Jacob Andrew Schriber Ball.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Suzanne (Horne) Schriber; daughter, Tiffany (Schriber) Ball; grandson, Raegan Ball; and nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Noon on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church, 609 SE Second Street, Evansville, Indiana with Rev. Wendy McCormick and Rev. Anna von Winckler officiating. Entombment will follow at Alexander Memorial Park where Military Rites will be performed. Friends may visit on Monday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Alexander East Chapel and on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Jacob Ball Wish Fund, www.jacobswish.org.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.