JACK MILES

By Mort Mazor

(Previously published in the July 2008 issue of Boca Bits Magazine, the monthly publication of the Boca Raton Computer Society)

The Board of the Swing & Jazz Preservation Society mourns the loss of board member Jack Miles who passed away August 9, 2008.

As a brash youngster, Jack would kibitz and cajole the ladies in the dress shop he worked in at his first job, while earning a Bachelor’s Degree at N. Y. U. and a Master’s at C.C.N.Y. After six years, he searched for larger fields to conquer and joined Revlon as a Long Island salesman. Within four years he was promoted to District Manager, supervising eight men from Washington, D. C. to Maine. Three years later he became Region Sales Manager covering the Eastern half of the U. S. up to Chicago, supervising a larger sales force.

The pressure packed cosmetic business, working under legendary, hard driving Charles Revson took its toll on Jack. He had his first heart attack at age 38. After recuperating he worked as National Sales Training Director for the company, a position he held for seven years.

He left Revlon after 18 years, moving to Movado Watch Co. for 5 years. He is particularly proud that two of the men he hired and trained at Movado became President’s of Movado owned companies later in their careers. Hamilton Watch made him an offer and he spent 6 years with them in sales management. After that he worked as a salesman for a precious jewelry firm for seven years, retiring at age 62 when that business became vulnerable to thieves and murderers.

Jack, who sports a healthy head of gray hair, is 5’ 8 ½” tall and weighs a solid 200 pounds. He and his charming wife Bobbie retired to a home in a west Delray community in 1990, after raising son Eric and daughter Tina. They have one granddaughter.

Jack quickly became involved in community activities as a Board and committee member. He established a link to 20 other communities, instructing them how to buy and use automatic defibrillators in case of emergency health problems; became a delegate and then board member of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations. He also serves on the board of the Swing & Jazz Preservation Society and is a substitute teacher to children who suffer from autism at Lantana Elementary School.

“This is particularly satisfying,” says Jack. “When those kids wrap their arms around me when a class is over and say ‘Thanks, Mr. Jack’ it breaks me up.”

Jack’s father was his inspiration, molding him into a man interested in learning and who became an exemplary father and breadwinner to his own family. Jack seeks to associate with people who are intelligent and compassionate.