CHERI LUCAS JENNINGS 

A Remembrance

Cheri Lucas Jennings passed away on October 4, 2020 at her home in Santa Rosa, California. This remembrance draws on a few of the many responses from friends as composed by her most passionate admirer and husband, Bruce Jennings.

Among my favorite early images of Cheri is a photo with other young children -  she is but a blur as she runs out of the picture.  As the years passed - whether a visiting faculty member at seminars in Washington, D.C., at my side doing field work in Mexico, assisting Black and Chicano students with organizing, caring for friends' children or assisting a group of students -- Cheri was frequently in motion.  

A close childhood friend, Gretchen remembers Cheri’s independence.  “You have always been such a creative spirit, unleashed from so many of various social norms.  Who else do I know who would get a nearly perfect report card except for an F in PE because you refused to follow the irrational requests of gym teachers?  Of course, this whimsical spirit also meant that your letters, while a joy to behold in so many senses, did not always, shall we say, convey a more mundane accounting of what you and Bruce had been up to.  But Cheri never did adhere to the commonplace!”

Another of Cheri's friends from high school and early college days recounts the expansive life of a vibrant young woman.  "You were the very best of friends: smart, funny, patient, understanding, insightful, artistic, lover of music and lyrics, a true patron of the arts. None of this is secondary to your passion for politics, environmental issues, women’s rights, human rights, and a wonderful sense of humor about it all."

Completing undergraduate degrees at San Francisco State University, Cheri pursued graduate studies at the University of Hawai'i - where she was pursued by a young man, Bruce Jennings, who was even more passionate with having found the love of his life.  In our early years, when resources were scarce, we shared a richness of experiences traveling up and down the Pacific coast, across Mexico, and to places in Spain where I had lived as a child. There was one particular spot, however, that captured Cheri’s heart.  I vividly recall an early evening stroll in Paris, Cheri turning to me, delivering her declarative judgement, “Well that’s it….I’m staying!”

As an ardent advocate for civil rights and social justice, one of Cheri's first jobs was serving as an affirmative action director at one of California's state universities. The university administration quickly learned that Cheri did not merely intend to end discrimination, but to actively fight racism in the classroom, in hiring practices, and as a basis for achieving social reform through legal action. Her advocacy would become a constant theme in her work as a university professor over the coming years.

Cheri dedicated so much of her life to others.  Over the course of nearly four decades, Professor Lucas Jennings taught thousands of university students.  One of Cheri’s favorite students - later professor at a major university - Lada, succinctly captured Cheri’s connection to young people: "Cheri was amazing and unique, intelligent and clever, smart and curious, and a great sense of humor person. She had a very critical mind, which shined through in conversations, comments on students’ papers, letters, emails. She was extremely supportive. She cared about her students, about their success and advancement. I received an immense amount of advice, support and understanding. She was also a cheerleader for accomplishments. She knew exactly what words to say to help, to teach, to accommodate and comfort."

There are so many stories.  Living in the Kaua’i plantation house, traveling by buses across Mexico, nurturing so many young people, her dog teaching her lessons about life, challenging her colleagues to do more, creating dozens of paintings in a single summer, slack key and talking story with friends, accompanying me on late-night sessions in the capitol, taking a ferry across the Sound, discussing the spiritual dimensions of life... and the laughter.  If at times our life was too full, it was never one of quiet desperation.  A friend and colleague offered these kind words: "You two have been such a dynamic duo for so long… so much you’ve shared, discussed, debated, taught each other. Cheri for me has always been a positive, supportive, critical, gentle and an unyielding force in this world... all the strengths and complexities of a very dynamic, hyper-bright person.”

In closing, a cherished friend from Hawaii recalling our many occasions of laughter, offers a passage from a poem - one I too will carry in my memory of Cheri and our life together -

 I'll sip the night slowly, knowing you're in it somewhere.

Donations in Cheri’s Honor

For those wishing to honor Cheri’s life, I will soon post information on my Facebook page and CaringBridge.

A Virtual Celebration of Cheri’s Life

In 2021 I will announce a date, likely in the Spring, for a virtual gathering to celebrate Cheri’s life.

Bruce H. Jennings

October 13, 2020