The Camp Jabberwocky community turned out in force Tuesday afternoon to honor one of the camp’s most stalwart and best-loved volunteers, Jack Knower, who died at 71 last October.
Under a blue sky streaked with criss-cross clouds, some 200 people gathered at the handicapped-accessible stretch of State Beach in Oak Bluffs to celebrate Mr. Knower’s life, his fun-loving spirit and his 44 years of dedication to Camp Jabberwocky.
Many campers and their volunteer counselors arrived aboard the new red Camp Jabberwocky bus, which is named Jack of Hearts in Mr. Knower’s honor. Their ranks of wheelchairs formed the nucleus of a spreading beach party that also included family members, past volunteers and other friends of the camp.
Mr. Knower was the beloved wearer of many hats at Camp Jabberwocky. He began working there in 1980 and continued to do so until his death, serving in various roles including counselor, camp director, caretaker and driver of the camp’s iconic red bus.
He grew up in Utica, N.Y. and earned a bachelor’s degree in special education and for more than 25 years dedicated his career to the field.
Campers traveled from on and off-Island to pay tribute to Mr. Knower’s legacy.
Robert Devlin of Arlington attended his 42nd camp session earlier this summer, but made a day trip with his parents to take part in Tuesday’s gathering. Now 49, Mr. Devlin has been coming to Camp Jabberwocky since he was a little boy, when Mr. Knower was a young man.
“He was so nice to me, and very kind, very funny... and I really miss him so much,” Mr. Devlin told the audience, which applauded frequently during the informal ceremony led by Rev. Cathlin Baker of the First Congregational Church in West Tisbury. Mr. Knower was a longtime member of the church, she said — and, unsurprisingly, he was a volunteer as well, serving weekly at the church’s community supper.
“When I think of Jack, he’s wearing an apron, grinning ear to ear and feeding his community,” Reverend Baker said.
Former Camp Jabberwocky director Liza Gallagher fought tears as she recalled Mr. Knower’s boundless energy and unlimited enthusiasm for everything from beach trips to communal meals.
“Jack lived for joy,” Ms. Gallagher said. “He didn’t wait for life to be fun. He made it fun every single moment,” she said.
Mr. Knower’s spirit of inquiry kept him young inside, Ms. Gallagher said.
“At 70, Jack was the most genuinely curious person I’ve ever known. He wasn’t afraid to try or learn new things. If there was an activity on Island, camp had never done before, we were just gonna go for it and figure it out,” she said.
Camper Bekah Larko sobbed silently, volunteer companions gently rubbing her shoulders, as her tablet-based voice generator shared her recollections of Mr. Knower: “Jabberwocky was Jack’s heart and soul. It was his life, his family, his joy and that’s what I love most about him,” Ms. Larko said, through the device attached to her wheelchair.
“Jack also shared that love with his son, John,” Ms. Larko continued. “He brought John to Jabberwocky when he was little, and thank goodness he did, because not only did camp gain another member of the family, but I gained a close friend. That’s who Jack was, someone who created connections that last forever.”
A photograph of Mr. Knower, smiling in a beach chair with his feet in the waves, stood nearby during the ceremony and cookout, which was followed by Camp Jabberwocky’s weekly State Beach drum circle with local musicians.
Mr. Knower also is remembered at the camp’s memorial pergola in Vineyard Haven, where his name was recently hand-carved to join those of other departed campers and volunteers.
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