Feb. 3, 2019
The Passing of CDR Jack Mayo, USN (Ret)
Dear USNPAA Members,
I'm very saddened to report the death of Commander Jack Mayo. Jack passed away unexpectedly in Glasgow, Scotland, on January 26, 2019 as he and his family were returning home from a vacation in Europe.
To those of us who knew Jack, he was a consummate professional—a highly respected public affairs officer, a public relations consultant and community leader. He had just turned 81 earlier in January.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nita Louise, four children and one grandson.
Details about a service are expected to be known soon. Arrangements are being handled by the Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home (wcfish.com) in Austin, Texas, where Jack and Nita Louise retired in 2000.
Jack was born January 9, 1938 in Richmond, Virginia. After earning an undergraduate degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures from the University of North Carolina, Jack was commissioned through ROTC and served two shipboard tours before being designated as a Public Affairs Officer.
Over a 21-year Navy career, Jack served as a ROTC instructor at the University of Texas, where he earned a graduate degree in Broadcasting and met Nita Louise. He served as PAO at Submarine Flotilla 2 in New London, First Naval District in Boston and was editor of “All Hands” in Washington, D.C.
In the early 1970s he was assigned to Detachment Charlie in Saigon, South Vietnam.
While assigned in Washington, D.C., Jack earned a second graduate degree from American University.
Following his retirement from the Navy, Jack directed public relations and taught at National University, worked for a public relations firm in San Diego and later opened his own PR and publishing firm.
Active in community affairs, Jack served as a Rotary club president and District Governor. Shortly after learning of his death, the Rotary Club of Austin honored Jack by naming Nita Louise an Honorary Rotarian.
A skilled writer and editor, Jack was the author of “Bulletin From Dallas: The President is Dead.” Published in 1967, the book provided a detailed accounting of media coverage surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Jack is fondly remembered by many Navy public affairs colleagues as a smart, thoughtful professional known for his strategic thinking and good cheer. At a time when ashtrays were standard items on many a PAO’s desk, Jack was often observed tapping away on a manual typewriter, pipe clenched in his teeth with smoke swirling above his head. (Nita Louise reports that Jack retired his pipes in 1983). Personally, I remember Jack and his pipe quite fondly. As a fresh caught LTJG PAO, I was assigned to the CHINFO News Desk. Jack was also assigned to CHINFO and whenever we would go into crisis mode (which was quite often), I would find solace in Jack—calm and cool with his pipe. His guidance and counsel always put me at ease and helped me keep things in perspective
At the time of his death, Jack and family were en route home following a two-week cruise in Norway to witness the Northern Lights.
A consummate professional, a devoted husband, father and grandfather….Jack Mayo will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
If anyone would like to send Nita Louise a note, please let me know [tjurkowsky3@comcast.net], and I will provide you her address.
Tom Jurkowsky
More Notes from the Admiral
The Passing of CDR Jack Mayo, USN (Ret)
Dear USNPAA Members,
I'm very saddened to report the death of Commander Jack Mayo. Jack passed away unexpectedly in Glasgow, Scotland, on January 26, 2019 as he and his family were returning home from a vacation in Europe.
To those of us who knew Jack, he was a consummate professional—a highly respected public affairs officer, a public relations consultant and community leader. He had just turned 81 earlier in January.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nita Louise, four children and one grandson.
Details about a service are expected to be known soon. Arrangements are being handled by the Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home (wcfish.com) in Austin, Texas, where Jack and Nita Louise retired in 2000.
Jack was born January 9, 1938 in Richmond, Virginia. After earning an undergraduate degree in Radio, Television and Motion Pictures from the University of North Carolina, Jack was commissioned through ROTC and served two shipboard tours before being designated as a Public Affairs Officer.
Over a 21-year Navy career, Jack served as a ROTC instructor at the University of Texas, where he earned a graduate degree in Broadcasting and met Nita Louise. He served as PAO at Submarine Flotilla 2 in New London, First Naval District in Boston and was editor of “All Hands” in Washington, D.C.
In the early 1970s he was assigned to Detachment Charlie in Saigon, South Vietnam.
While assigned in Washington, D.C., Jack earned a second graduate degree from American University.
Following his retirement from the Navy, Jack directed public relations and taught at National University, worked for a public relations firm in San Diego and later opened his own PR and publishing firm.
Active in community affairs, Jack served as a Rotary club president and District Governor. Shortly after learning of his death, the Rotary Club of Austin honored Jack by naming Nita Louise an Honorary Rotarian.
A skilled writer and editor, Jack was the author of “Bulletin From Dallas: The President is Dead.” Published in 1967, the book provided a detailed accounting of media coverage surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
- Advance work for a visit to Naples, Italy by President Kennedy;
- Supporting the production of the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman” (family lore has it that the screenwriter or director named the lead character “Zack Mayo” (played by actor Richard Gere) after meeting Jack;
- Handling media relations around the controversial negotiations between the Navy and the city of San Diego that resulted in the relocation of Balboa Naval Hospital in an undeveloped section of a city park.
Jack is fondly remembered by many Navy public affairs colleagues as a smart, thoughtful professional known for his strategic thinking and good cheer. At a time when ashtrays were standard items on many a PAO’s desk, Jack was often observed tapping away on a manual typewriter, pipe clenched in his teeth with smoke swirling above his head. (Nita Louise reports that Jack retired his pipes in 1983). Personally, I remember Jack and his pipe quite fondly. As a fresh caught LTJG PAO, I was assigned to the CHINFO News Desk. Jack was also assigned to CHINFO and whenever we would go into crisis mode (which was quite often), I would find solace in Jack—calm and cool with his pipe. His guidance and counsel always put me at ease and helped me keep things in perspective
At the time of his death, Jack and family were en route home following a two-week cruise in Norway to witness the Northern Lights.
A consummate professional, a devoted husband, father and grandfather….Jack Mayo will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
If anyone would like to send Nita Louise a note, please let me know [tjurkowsky3@comcast.net], and I will provide you her address.
Tom Jurkowsky
More Notes from the Admiral