After a life of commitment to family and Christian ministry, Dr. Jack R. Presseau died on June 25, 2022, in Flat Rock, NC. The son of Wilson Leo and Mary Jenkins Pressau, he was born in Curtisville, PA, on November 16, 1933. He earned degrees from Indiana University of PA, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA, and a Ph.D. in Religious Education from the University of Pittsburgh. From 1965-1998 he graduated 160 Christian Education majors at Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC.
He served as a Minister of Education at North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY, for three years before coming to Presbyterian College. While teaching and retired, he supplied small congregations with preaching and some limited pastoral services for 30 years. He considered his dual commitment as teacher and pastor the best of vocational worlds for him. He published three books and gave his family a book-length work on their family heritage, which included autobiographies and a family name traced back to 17thcentury France.
For over 49 years, Jack has been married to his beloved wife, Jane Todd Jones. His three children with first wife, Gail Girdwood Hutchinson (Rhem, deceased), include Dr. Susan Presseau (Dr. Tony Goudy), Dr. Jeffrey Presseau (deceased, and wife Christy), and Cara Presseau (Judith Ryan). His stepdaughter is Dr. Suzanne Smith (Dr. Wayne Smith). Grandchildren include Arleigh and Dr. Jeffrey Dickerson (Susan’s sons), Alexis Presseau Maloof (Zac), Cecilia Presseau (Jamie Fairley), and Amy Smith. Great grandsons include Louis and Felix Maloof. Dr. Presseau’s brothers include Jean Pierre (Wilma – both deceased) and David Frederick Pressau. Barclay Yates has been a trusted friend to Jack and Jane for many years and was great company and support for Jack during his illness.
Jack and Jane shared a passion for travel, especially in the United States, the British Isles, Western Europe, Israel, and the Caribbean. His other passion was music, specifically playing the bass violin in many groups, including some in retirement and nursing home venues. His favorite gigs were Broadway musicals and swing.
Jack will be remembered as a program creator, especially for founding Presbyterian College’s Student Volunteer Services program in 1966, when segregation was the norm. In 2021 an anonymous donor endowed the position, the Jack and Jane Presseau Associate Chaplain for Student Volunteer Services. In turn, Jack and Jane endowed a Student Volunteer Services Programming Fund. Jack will also be remembered as a compassionate listener and volunteer, including years of service as a member and president of the District Mental Health Board in SC. His family remembers him as loving, caring, generous, supportive, and having a great sense of humor.
A visitation with the family will be from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC, followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be sent to the Jack and Jane Presseau Student Volunteer Services Programming Fund at Presbyterian College (503 S. Broad St., Clinton, SC 29325 or https://www.presby.edu/giving/give-now/), Trinity Presbyterian Church (900 Blythe St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 or https://www.trinitypresnc.org/giving-back), Interfaith Assistance Ministry of Hendersonville, NC (https://www.iam-hc.org/), Bonclarken Conference Center (500 Pine Dr. Flat Rock, NC 28731or https://www.bonclarken.org/donations/), Four Seasons Hospice (581 South Allen Rd, Flat Rock NC 28731), or the charity of one’s choice. Jackson Funeral Service is assisting the family with arrangements.