Tue
Jul 7 2015
10:36 am
It's a dark, sad day in Knoxville's journalism community
By: Bbeanster

The wonderfully talented, witty and generally wonderous photojournalist Jack Rose – formerly the chief photographer for the old Knoxville Journal, died yesterday.

The comment I've seen most of on FB is simply that Jack was the best of the best. Any story I ever worked on with Jack was better because he was there. Sometimes he made it a whole different story, just by asking a couple of quirky, brilliant questions.

Apparently he was stricken within the last three weeks with a rare and awful auto-immune disease that destroyed his liver. His doctor at Vandy was hoping for a liver transplant, but nothing was available in time to save Jack.

All us old Journal Alums are devastated, as are many others. And I hurt for his wife, Sara Fortune Rose, with whom Jack was so happy.

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bizgrrl's picture

Our sympathies go out to his

Submitted by bizgrrl on Tue, 2015/07/07 - 5:34pm.

Our sympathies go out to his family and friends. So sorry for your loss.

AC's picture

I'm so very sad to hear this,

Submitted by AC on Tue, 2015/07/07 - 8:28pm.

I'm so very sad to hear this, Betty. Jack was a special guy. We crossed paths for the first time in some time a few weeks ago at Knox Mason, and his witty, sharp observations were in full bloom. One of a kind. And, yes, very gifted. RIP.

Bbeanster's picture

I can write about this but

Submitted by Bbeanster on Tue, 2015/07/07 - 9:37pm.

I can write about this but have the damnedest time speaking about it. I've cried like a rainstorm every time I've tried. Any day spent with Jack was a gift, and the best part was I actually knew that while it was happening. Maybe that's why I remember those days so well, even after all these years. I am so sad for Sara and for everyone who called Jack a friend.

Bbeanster's picture

Morgan did a fine job telling

Submitted by Bbeanster on Wed, 2015/07/08 - 10:43am.

Morgan did a fine job telling Jack's story (particularly given the space constraints he had to contend with).
I know it was hard for him, because he loved Jack, too.

Joe Stewardson's picture is outstanding.

(link...)

Bbeanster's picture

This shot is not to be

Submitted by Bbeanster on Wed, 2015/07/08 - 10:58am.

This shot is not to be missed:

(link...)

(On edit: Oops. couldn't link the foto directly. See the last shot on the far right of Jack towering above the crowd on a street in Tokyo)

Reminds me of one of my favorite Jack Rose stories:

Jack and I did a story about a 5-year-old faith healer who lived in Sevierville and was a cousin of Dolly Parton's. He lived with his granny, a wonderful woman named Nadine Oakley who was a walking encyclopedia of Sevier County history and legend. Morgan Simmons, at that time, also worked for the Journal, so Jack and I hooked him up with this family. My memory is a little blurry here, but my best recollection is that Morgan and I went by their house so I could introduce him to them (not that he needed me, because Morgan is great with people, but I just used any excuse I could find to visit these wonderful folks whom I'd gotten to know when I worked at the Mountain Press).

Anyhow, the little kid, Derrick Parton, just adored Jack Rose, and was obviously disappointed that we'd come without him.

He kind of looked Morgan up and down and matter-of-factly said, "Jack can touch the ceiling standing flat-footed." I'm sure Derrick came to like Morgan, too; but Jack Rose was his main man.

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