BRUCE NAYLOR JACKSON
Bruce Naylor Jackson passed away on February 1st in La Jolla, California at the age of 86. He is the son of Rodney H Jackson and Marion Englebright from New York State. He was surrounded by family and friends. He was healthy and active up until the last two months of his life. He was religious about going to the gym six days a week. He also got to the beach as often as possible to body surf.
Bruce’s second wife, Leith Clotfelter, passed away two weeks prior to Bruce.
Bruce was born in Del Mar, California on July 26, 1933. He graduated from San Deguito High School where he was active on the track team and surfed at local beaches. After spending one summer working on a commercial fishing boat out of Alaska he decided college would be a better choice. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He then enlisted in the Army, serving as a Communications Specialist in the European theater.
After being discharged, Bruce attended San Francisco State University's School of World Business where he obtained his MBA. While in graduate school he met his first wife, Martha Simpson Priestley. He started his career with Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company. He then entered Nabisco's executive training program which had he Martha and daughter Klea relocate to Mexico City, Mexico where their son Huntley was born.
Subsequently they relocated to the seaside town of Rowayton CT and Bruce commuted to New York City. Bruce worked for several advertising agencies such as J Walter Thompson, Omnicom and Foote Cone & Belding. He was a respected innovative professional working on accounts such as Sears, Unilever, Frito-Lay, Citibank, American Express, T. Rowe Price, Dean Witter, NYSE and JP Morgan. Ultimately he worked for Citibank where, as Chief of Communications, he led the "The Citi Never Sleeps" campaign as well as the advertising of the first nationwide ATM network.
In 1995, Bruce started his career as a Business Development Consultant. He brought his extensive creative business expertise to large established companies as well as startup entities across many different industries. Bruce helped numerous startups such as Statmark which created and distributed video content to gas station pumps, elevators and other captive audiences. In his later years, Bruce worked as an angel investor / consultant specializing in consumer products, medical/ pharmaceuticals, technology and entertainment. Renowned for his expertise, Bruce was at the center of a wide network of professional colleagues who worked to promote innovations across the country.
In addition to devotedly raising a family with Martha, Bruce enjoyed boating on Long Island Sound. Bruce and Martha took their boat "The Lily Pad" up the coast to Cape Cod MA and the outer islands. They spent many hours at Fish Island and Sheffield Island enjoying the tranquility during the cocktail hour. He served as the Race Committee Captain for the Norwalk Yacht Club. Bruce and Martha also enjoyed traveling, taking many trips across the U.S., the Caribbean as well as Europe. A favorite visit was with long-time friends in Somalia and travelling in Africa for a safari.
Three years after Martha passed away, Bruce moved to Escondido CA and reconnected with longtime family friend Leith Clotfelter. Ultimately they married. They spent a lot of time visiting the children and grandchildren and their extended families. They also enjoyed their travels to the east coast, Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, Scotland and throughout Mexico. They particularly enjoyed the many times they visited the Sweet Grass Ranch in Montana.
Bruce was known for his unique ability to engage people from all walks of life. He knew the value of listening more than talking. He was guided by a desire to help others. This was evident in his ever present interest to help others in regard to careers, personal achievement, and complicated health situations. For over seven decades, Bruce happily shared his world class sand castle building skills, joyfully teaching his pioneering sand drip method to every kid on the beach..
Bruce is survived by daughter Klea (Steve) Galasso of Chula Vista and their children Isabella and Octavio; son Huntley Jackson of Southington, Connecticut and his daughters Klea, Kendra, Kellen and Keyla Roy, her husband Timothy and their son, Calvin Jackson; sister Gail (Bill Simonsma) Jackson of Hawaii; half-siblings Linda (Jim Stone) Jackson of San Rafael, California and Larry (Nancy) Jackson of Port Townsend, Washington; and sister-in-law Susan Jackson of San Diego, the extended Clotfelter family, and numerous nieces, nephews and their children.
Please note that the Celebration of Life has been postponed due to Covid 19. Once the new date is selected it will be posted. Huntley.jackson@gmail.com
