Innovative educator, outdoor enthusiast, ‘project ninja’

Duane Kyler Jackman was happiest when he could serve as the catalyst for another person’s success and, as a lifelong educator, he seized these opportunities. A 60-year resident of Claremont, he died at 92 on July 2, at Mt. San Antonio Gardens.

Duane was born February 17, 1932, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Donald and Rose Jackman. With his parents and siblings, he moved to Compton, California, and graduated from Compton High School in 1951. He was in the U.S. Navy Reserve on active duty from 1951 to 1953, and attended Parachute Rigger School in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

An offhand comment made to him by a friend when he was a teenager, that he “would be a good teacher,” set in motion his choice of education as a career. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a major in outdoor education. While at UCSB, he met Carole Phillips, and they married in 1957. They had two daughters, Jennifer and Jessica. The marriage ended in 1970.

He received a master’s degree from Cal State Long Beach. While working on this degree, he led a parks program for the City of Compton, then taught in the outdoor education program of the Long Beach City School District in Idyllwild, and as an elementary classroom teacher in Downey. He came to Claremont at the invitation of Richard S. Kirkendall, then principal of Sycamore Elementary School, to become an upper grade teacher at the school. He moved into administration two years later and served as principal at Condit Elementary School from 1966 to 1968, and Vista Del Valle Elementary from 1968 to 1989.

In 1974, he and Lee Whitham were married and created a blended family of five children. To avoid the expense of going out to restaurants, he suggested they eat at home. Each Sunday, parents, kids, friends, and grandparents would gather for what became known as family dinner featuring a home-cooked meal with Lee as chef and him on cleanup duty. The family dinner tradition continues today, 50 years after it began.

“While at Vista School, he created an exemplary and innovative resource center program that featured separate learning centers,” his family shared. Students moved from classrooms to study in centers that included language arts, science, theater, and a television studio, among others. By recruiting 150 volunteers each year, he reduced the staff/pupil ratio to one-to-eight. “He never took personal credit for his visionary leadership, rather acknowledging instead the hard work and creativity of his teachers and staff,” his family added.

He also created a jobs program for students. Teachers and staff posted job descriptions for tasks, and students applied and interviewed for jobs that ranged from custodian assistant, mimeograph operator, to office receptionist.

He was recognized by the Vista School staff for having established the now 50-year-old all-Claremont schools track meet by naming it in his honor. The opening of the annual Duane K. Jackman Invitational Track Meet always featured the namesake leading the parade of athletes around the track, often with one grandchild or more walking alongside.

After he retired from public education in 1989, he entered the field of real estate appraisal. But missing interaction with teachers and students, he returned to education a few years later as headmaster of Carden Arbor View School, a private K-8 school in Upland, a position he held for seven years. Three of his grandchildren also attended and enjoyed their Carden School experience.

“Duane called the outdoors his ‘church,’” his family said. He was dedicated to tennis, backpacking, basketball, and golf. He was a founding member of The Claremont Club and played on the men’s and mixed doubles tennis ladders. He played basketball in a City of Claremont adult league, golf at Red Hill Country Club, and once spent six days hiking across the Sierra Nevada with friends. Hiking was also a family activity, generating many humorous stories.

Among his many honors was the Claremont Unified School District’s Richard S. Kirkendall Award for his exemplary contributions to the district, and special honors by Mt. San Antonio Gardens for his tireless work in renovating, reorganizing, and overseeing the wood shop for many years. He loved turning wood and began making wood pens for family members, for the Gardens’ monthly birthday celebrations, and to sell to residents to generate funds for the wood shop.

He also created two informal “camps” for grandchildren to encourage their proficiencies: math camp featured math drills where grandkids learned and then dreaded the drill called “magic squares,” and golf camp for a grandson who showed a talent and interest in the game. They would visit Red Hill Country Club several days a week so he could encourage and teach the things he had studied about the short game.

“Duane always had at least one ‘project,’ whether it was building something, helping with repairs, or spending special time with his grandchildren encouraging their passions with sports and animals,” his family said. “Projects ranged from small to mighty, and a few times resulted in injury. The family noted that because of his injuries, they forbade him to climb a ladder! He loved to help his family with any project that gave him an excuse to visit a hardware store and return with the perfect items to complete the job.”

“Duane is survived by a large, loving family who will miss his love, even disposition, willingness to help others, and his sense of humor,” his family said. Survivors include his wife, Lee; children, Jennifer Jackman, Aaron Whitham (Susan Brinkama), Adam Whitham (Leslie), Jessica Jackman Uy (Allan), and Aimee Whitham Tracy. He is also survived by grandchildren, Devon Prophet (Mason), Katja Whitham (Mickey Abrams), Jacob Quinn, Delana Quinn Bubar (Steven), Addison Whitham (Alexa Ramirez), Benjamin Whitham, Taylor Whitham, and Juliette Uy; great-granddaughter, Emmerson Prophet; sister-in-law, Karen Herold Gallagher (Woodrow Biggs); and many nieces and nephews.

A private celebration of life will be held.