Jack Stebbins 1925–2008

Today it was chilly and cloudy for the second day in a row. I guess fall has finally come. With fall comes the dying, leaves falling, and bulbs and seeds buried. In midst of the two festivals last weekend, one at the Urban Ecology Center and Peacefest, I learned of the death of my friend Jack Stebbins last Friday. But with all the festivals his death only sank in today. With any death of a friend, sadness and memories come alive. Although Jack was around during the 60’s, the Milwaukee 14 days, and at the beginning of Casa Maria, Catholic Worker House of Hospitality, we had just known each other in passing at various peace and justice events. Our knowledge of each other and friendship got a spark when some members of the Milwaukee 14 and supporters like Jack had a gathering at our house four or five years ago.

Jack knew quite well and had stayed in contact with Lorenzo Rosebaugh, a member of the Milwaukee 14 and an oblate priest now serving the poorest of the poor in Guatemala City. At our first gathering with Lorenzo he was working on his memoirs. At the second gathering Lorenzo was here to promote his book To Wisdom Through Failure. I had already received a copy of the book and read it. Jack purchased one at the gathering with Lorenzo. About a week later he called me up one day quite excited and said he had just read the memoir and was so deeply moved by it that he had to call someone to share his experience with. He chose me because he knew I had read the book. This book of our friend had also impressed me. We talked for quite a while on the phone until we had both shared the joy, pain and peace we had discovered in Lorenzo’s life story. We also shared the experience of the passing of another mutual friend, Gordon Zahn.

Jack planted a lot of seeds of hope and joy in his life and I know that, like all seeds planted in good soil, they will rise again in the spring of life. We who knew Jack, even a little, were greatly blessed. You can read his obituary in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Peace, my friend, and remember us who, like you, strive to bring the Kingdom of God on Earth.

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