Jack Champlin, Mayor of Bond Street
August 5, 1926 - April 4, 2014
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Jack was officially designated as the mayor of Bond Street by The New York Times in 2003.
For 55 years he lived on 26 Bond St. observing and participating in the history of the street.
He was a good historian to tell stories of the area now called Noho, and there were many interesting ones including a 19th century murder case.
He lived with his partner, Dale Joe, who was a painter of abstract expressionism until his death in 2001.
He worked as a fashion illustrator at Family Circle often collaborating with Dale.
Both of them were in the Andy Warhol's circle, and the picture was shot in Jack and Dales' loft. His friends and neighbors heard many anecdotes about their colorful lives with prominent New York artists.
He was an ultimate people person and LOVED movies. His knowledge and love of movies, particularly classics, and the people in movies was always a lovely center piece for parties.
Jack and Dale travelled to many exotic countries like India, Brazil, Morocco and Mexico before other travelers found them out. His love of arts went beyond his partner's master works to classic movies and music of Billie Holiday. Jack was loved by everybody in the neighborhood and beyond including four-legged friends. He was the go-to-person for the people in the neighborhood when they went away. Practically every dog and cat on the Bond Street and Noho areas knew him intimately. Not only animals, Jack also took good care of people. At age 82 his first time running for an elected office, and he won. He was elected to Democratic County Committee in the Primary Election in September 2011. The cause of death was pneumonia. He was 84, a native of Sierra Madre, California. He was survived by his nephew's wife Jennifer Chamber. His twin brother Richard, his only sibling, passed away several years ago. | ||
| Here is an album from his 80th birthday celebration on August 5, 2009. The first part of the party was held on the Bond Street, appropriate for the mayor of the Bond, with The Slavic Soul Party playing the music and the singer serenading to Jack. Many of his friends and neighbors gathered and gave him hugs and kisses. In the evening we gathered at Silver Palace in China Town and celebrated his birthday with his favorite cuisine. The party still continued at his friends' place with a birthday cake. There are two videos from the party. | ||
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