One of my favorite memories of working with Jacques was we had this inside joke that we were like the movie Training Day, when one of Denzel Washington's recurring/favorite lines, "It's not what we know, it's what we can prove." Denzel played a character named Alonzo (which is close to my name, Alex, although as an Asian-American, my resemblance to Denzel Washington is not, um, twin-like). Denzel's trainee, was played by Ethan Hawke (a white actor), who played a character named Jake. Of course, I would refer myself to Alonzo and Jacques as Jake when we were chatting/working on a magnet school project, including the line, and some of Alonzo/Denzel's mannerisms. Although he didn't laugh at work often, it made my day when I made him laugh. It is something I miss to this day.
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I just saw this obituary and read it with a heavy heart. I just had a law school memory flashback and thought to Google Jacques, and discovered this tragic news. As many others have commented here, Jacques had a keen sense of humor and a flair for giving everyone nicknames. He could also be very serious and always had time to talk with people who struggled with anything. During his undergraduate years at HU, we had common friends from his pals there who I grew up with in Richmond, deepening our connection. Though I haven’t seen him since he graduated in 1983, I miss his wit, his love of the Sixers, and his sense of purpose in life.
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I just read about Jacques’ passing and want to extend my condolences to his family and friends.
I was Jacques’ roommate for a year at the University of Virginia law school. His warm personality and humor was one of the highlights of my time there. I fondly remember many evenings laughing at his endless wisecracks and watching the Petey Greene show with him. Almost forty years later I still smile at some of his more memorable jokes.
I am grateful to have known him and spent time with him and am saddened to hear of his passing.
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My condolences to Jacques’ family and friends. I met Jacques when he transferred to the OCR Philadelphia office in 2007. Jacques and I became fast friends and would talk every day for hours. He would come over in the morning after breakfast and again after he returned from the gym. He would sit in the chair across from me and munch on his raw carrots and broccoli. He always told me, “Linda, I don’t eat this because I like it, but because I have to.” Jacques and I shared so many conversations about a multitude of issues, family, friends and life. He was more like a brother to me than a friend. I miss him dearly. Rest in peace my friend.
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I consider myself extremely fortunate and blessed to have known and worked with Jacques. One of the smartest folks I've ever met; quick-witted and extremely grounded. He had a memory and recall like no other. I enjoyed every conversation I ever had with him, no matter the topic (and they varied widely). I also learned some things about myself from my conversations with Jacques, and I am forever grateful for that. The "pendulum" swings on my friend! Peace be with your family and friends.
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My deepest condolences. Jaques and I were law school classmates. I believe we had Torts together. Although UVA had a reputation for being relaxed, as a young Black woman, I felt very alien in the environment. Also, only about 12 Black students were in the UVA Law Class of 1983. I still recall the reassurance I felt whenever I encountered Jaques at his mailbox (physical mailboxes then, not virtual). I admired his easy-going, piece of cake approach to the whole "law school experience". I am so sorry for your loss.
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My condolences to Jacques and his family. As my law school classmate, Jacques and I used to keep up a running sports commentary, usually about my Redskins team versus his "Iggles." Jacques always brought a smile to my face along with a laugh to break up the anxiety from our law studies. I shall miss him greatly and will remember him always.
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My condolence to the family.
Miss you J. Thanks for your friendship these past 42 years, from meeting at law school in Charlottesville until your recent passing. Enjoyed all the laughs in Charlottesville and later when you moved to DC. Thanks for being the best man at my wedding, and for sharing your sage advice and keen intellect. God bless and rest in peace.
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Jacques was an excellent lawyer. He extended kindness, guidance, and support to me immediately after I arrived in the Office for Civil Rights DC Office from the Dallas Office. Jacques had a wicked sense of humor and was a man of integrity. I am thankful we had the chance to stay in touch through the years. I will miss his wisdom and our banter.
Anthony Hightower
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A lot of Jacques classmates from the William Penn High School Class of 1975 (New Castle, Delaware) have very fond memories of him in the classroom and on the basketball court on the school teams he played on during 1971-1975.
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I had the pleasure -- and privilege -- of working with Jacques in OCR's Metro Regional Office. As many of you know, Jacques was very careful to present a professional appearance that matched the seriousness of his attention to our work. On one occasion, he and I visited a school district in rural North Carolina. There was only one motel in the town, and it had just opened. Just after we arrived and before we went to dinner, he hung his suit up in the bathroom and turned on the shower so that the steam would ensure that the suit had no wrinkles. When we returned and he opened the door to his room, water came pouring out into the hallway -- he had forgotten to open the bathtub drain, and the tub had overflowed into his room and the room underneath his. He told me this on our way to the school district building the next morning with his usual grace and wit -- and, of course, his suit looked great! And, equally of course, he did a masterful job in dealing with the district.
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To say Spoon was unique might be the greatest understatement in the world. He was my friend since my freshman year in college which his sophomore year. He had a mastery of the English vocabulary. To his college friends he was a master of the "Dozens" and did not mind telling you he was that guy. I am missing my friend, but we will do our best keep Spoon relevant.
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1984, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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I had the pleasure of working with Jaques in the Philadelphia Office. I along with other employees would hold court if you will with Jaques each morning. We would talk about worldly issues, medications, whatever the hot topics were at the time and lots of music. Jaques was an R&B expert and he knew I loved my R&B music. He could name a tune,the artist and the year. Jaques was very compassionate to me always checking in with me to see how my elderly parents were and more importantly how I was. Jaques had a dry sense of humor but was so funny. I always looked forward to seeing him each morning and each afternoon after visiting the gym. I am glad for the opportunity to call Jaques a friend first a colleague second.
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Condolence to Jaques's family. I worked with him first when he and I worked on the litigation team in OCR in the early 90s. He was so generous with providing adviceand loved teaching. He and I had great political debates that always ended up with us laughing. We loved to talk music so seeing his friend write Give up the Funk resonates with me. Jacque had left the DC area during the time my daughter passed away. But true to the type of person he was, he showed up at the funeral which meant the world to me. It was truly a blessing having met him.
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My condolences to Jaques's family. I first met Jaques when I worked as an attorney with the US Department of Education, the Office for Civil Rights in Philadelphia. Jacques always showed a commitment and professionalism about his work, in particular his work with desegregation cases. He freely and generously offered his colleagues guidance and assistance in addressing complex issues. He also shared a love of movies and was an expert on the history of films. Again, I offer my condolences to his family and friends.
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Jaques was a gifted and dedicated civil rights attorney. I recall especially his membership and understanding on a post 9/11 team that was determined to stop the discrimination that our office was finding against any person who was deemed a Muslim in overbroad retaliation for the twin towers tragedy. After we were no longer in the same office my husband Tom and I attended a Brown v. Board of Education commemoration and were happy to meet up with Jaques and his brother to share our mutual support for school desegregation. I am saddened by Jaques passing but am holding his memory in my heart. RIP Dear colleague and friend.
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Jacques was a valued coworker at the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education. We worked together for about 10 years. He could always cheer me up or calm me down, whichever was needed. My condolences to his family and friends.
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