Jack Drake Rollins

Jack Drake Rollins, 80, passed away on Sunday, October 8,2023. Born to Jacqueline and Leo Rollins in Ann Arbor Michigan. He developed a group of talented life-long friends. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Jack joined the Peace Corp. He was posted to Kenya where he taught English and became fluent in Swahili. Upon returning from the Peace Corp, Jack earned an MFA from the University of Iowa. This led to a career in teaching in the English Department of Indiana State University. Jack’s interest in Swahili led to earning a master’s and PhD in Comparative Literature and African Studies from Indiana University. After retiring from ISU, Jack continued his teaching by joining the Honors College at Indiana University. He developed a course called Medicine, Magic, and Mortality where he focused on helping medical students approach illness from a personal point of view. Bringing his own history of being a kidney transplant recipient, Jack was able to influence and touch the lives and futures of many young prospective doctors. One of these doctors was able to reconnect with Jack during his final hospital stay. Hearing the impact he had on her life and career meant so much to him. At the time of his death, Jack was one of the longest living kidney transplant recipients in Indiana. During his early tenure at Indiana State, Jack met and married Linda Egler Rollins. He and Linda celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. He is survived by his wife, Linda, his beloved children Derek (Kelly) and Hayley, his grandchildren Abrie and Cameron, and his dear sister, Mary Sue Husar (Mark). Jack was always an avid scholar and writer. His groundbreaking work, A History of Swahili Prose, was published in 1983 by E J Brill. His work has been cited by many fellow scholars in the field of African Languages and Literature. He had many and varied interests including developing an international business with his friends and many contacts in East and West Africa. He enjoyed swimming competitively with the IU Masters. We want to thank a few of his many close friends including Michael Levin, Robert Hiatt, Charles Cope, and Mark Sandstrom. His family would like to thank our dear friend and physician Lois Lambrecht, MD for her support through his many health challenges. Typical of Jack, he didn’t want any fuss over his passing, so we won’t be having a funeral. We may decide to celebrate his life at a later date.

Tributes

Jack Drake Rollins

February 9, 1943 - October 8, 2023