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MEDIA CONTACT: Lynn Laurenti
561/297-4422, laurenti@fau.edu
FAU CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSOR JERRY HACKETT DIES
BOCA RATON, FL (May 23, 2003) - Jerry F. Hackett, a founding member of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University, died Tuesday after a year-long battle with cancer. The 59-year-old resident of Boca Raton died in the hospice care unit of Bethesda Memorial Hospital.
"Jerry was very student-oriented, and he was always cognizant of the fact that many of them viewed criminal justice as a career field," said FAU Professor Emeritus William Bopp, the department's first chairperson. "I don't know of any other faculty member who had more students come back to visit them after graduation than Jerry did."
Hackett began teaching criminal justice at FAU in 1972, several years before the department was officially created. "He was very instrumental in establishing the department and over the years became its most important and influential member," Bopp said. "Jerry did everything. He played a major role in creating the curriculum, he taught every course, he developed and supervised the internship program and he was the department's liaison to the law enforcement community." Hackett also was a founder of the Criminal Justice Club and served as its first advisor. Additionally, he played a major role in establishing FAU's nursing program.
A scholarship has been established at FAU in Hackett's memory. Donations may be sent to the attention of Diane Starkey in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida Atlantic University, P.O. Box 3091, Boca Raton, Florida 33431-0991.
Hackett is survived by two daughters, Kristie Vullo and Jennifer Hackett of Delray Beach; a granddaughter, Johanna Vullo of Delray Beach; a brother, John Hackett of Louisville, Kentucky; and an uncle, Jack O'Donnell of London, Ohio. A local service is not planned, but a memorial service will take place in Hackett's hometown of London, Ohio, at a future date. The family suggests that donations be made in his memory to Hospice of the Palm Beaches, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, Florida 33407.###
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