Dennis S. Jackson

Beloved Husband. Father. Grandfather. Coach. Dennis S. Jackson life came to an end on Monday, September 18, 2023. Dennis Sidney Jackson was born January 2, 1948, in Newark, NJ to parents Milton and Euladean Jackson. He was one of seven children. Dennis attended 18 Avenue Elementary School, West Kinney Junior High School and West Side High School, where he was distinguished graduate and athlete in 1965, when he obtained a full basketball scholarship to Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, FL As he attended West Side High School, he was selected three years consecutively to the All-City team in both Basketball & Football. He graduated from Florida A & M with a B.A. degree in Business Administration in 1970, where he won the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) championship in 1967, where he was then named to the all-conference tournament team. He holds a master’s degree from The State University of New York. After meeting and marrying his wife and soulmate, Gloria they relocated to Albany, NY. Dennis and Gloria are the parents of three children: Millicent, Kimberly, and Jamahl. Dennis relocated his family to Blackwood, NJ where he was the top assistant basketball coach for the University of Pennsylvania. It was here that Dennis saw his teams capture three Ivy League titles and two Big Five title crowns. During his time at The University of Pennsylvania he went on to appear in the National Invitational Tournament as well as the 1979 NCAA Final Four. Additionally, he lent his coaching talents to Monmouth College, Central Connecticut State University and The University of Massachusetts Amherst. His greatest achievement was the creation of P.L.A.Y. Inc., (Planned Learning Achievement for Youth), a non-profit organization designed and created to enhance the minority student athlete ages 14-19 years old in the areas of academics, SAT/ACT preparation, athletics, and life skills development. The basketball camp portion started at Hampshire College in 1991. Its storied history continued on the campus of Mt Holyoke, in South Hadley, MA, for over 15 years. In 2000, Coach Jackson was the 3rd inductee into the Five Star Basketball Hall of Fame, after Michael Jordan. In, 2008 he was enshrined in the Newark, NJ Hall of Fame and in 2011 was awarded the Spring of Hope Community Service Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership for Youth by Dominic Sarno, the Mayor of Springfield, MA. In the same year, he received a scholarship award for youth from the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity. In 2013 Dennis received the African American Achievement Award from the Amherst Regional Public School District. The next year Dennis served on The Educational and Athletic Committee of the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) from 2014 to 2019. Due to this honor, he received a lifetime long pass for athletic activities throughout the entire state of Massachusetts. Last year Dennis was inducted into his alma matter High School for the 4th Annual Hall of Fame as one of their most honored alumni due to his athletic accomplishments and community commitments. Lastly, he was the author of books “Stretching for Athletes” and “I’m Just A Man”. In addition to coaching, his work in Guidance and Adjustment counseling at The High School of Science and Technology in Springfield, MA, as well as his passion that led him to reach out to basketball students all over the greater Pioneer Valley with his programs entitled, “Foot Locker” and “Blue Chip” which have been part of the Amherst and Northampton Communities for over 30 years, reaching countless people. Dennis Jackson leaves behind a legacy of basketball, philanthropy, and a love for community and young students throughout Western Massachusetts. Dennis was predeceased by his wife Gloria (Johnson) Jackson, his older brother Milton Jackson Jr. and sister Brenda Wilson. He leaves his legacy to his three children: Millicent Jackson of South Deerfield, MA, Jamahl Jackson, of Sunderland, MA and his daughter Kimberly McDowell of Holyoke, MA (widow of his son-in- law Wade McDowell, Jr.), as well as his three grandchildren: Kaley McDowell, David Snell, and Greyson Corriea-Jackson. He leaves behind his brother Gilbert Jackson and sister-in-law Jacqueline Jackson, sister Deborah Green and brother-in-law Frank Green, sister Jennifer Jones, Carleen Jackson, and his sister-in-law, Gwendolyn Taylor of Marietta, GA. He also leaves behind his nieces and nephews in Newark, NJ, as well as Marietta, GA. For those who wish, contributions may be made to the Dennis S. Jackson Memorial Fund, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Foundation 625 East Tennessee Street, Suite 100, Tallahassee, FL 32308. The children of Mr. Jackson cordially invite family and friends to a Celebration of Life on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 6-8 p.m. at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue, Springfield, MA 01105. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA 01108 has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Dennis’ memorial page at www.nefcc.net for expressions of sympathy.

Dennis S. Jackson

January 2, 1948 - September 18, 2023