Jack Wilkinson was a critical factor in the development of the IAEE and a treasured friend and colleague for many that he met through the organization. Jack served as President of the IAEE in 1987. As Chief Economist of Sunoco and a larger than life figure in Philadelphia, from quarterbacking the United States Air Force Football team in the 1960s, to his involvement in the local community as well as the IAEE and other professional organizations. But what was most memorable was the man himself. His quick sense of humor and infectious laugh lit up many an IAEE meeting and reflected his underlying good humor.

It has been our privilege to have known Jack Wilkinson for some forty years. He was both a friend and an invaluable professional mentor to both of us. Dave DeAngelo’s history with Jack began during the early pre-USAEE days of IAEE itself and Dave’s entry into the profession of energy economics. David Knapp met Jack in the 1970s when working at the Chase Manhattan Bank’s Energy Economics Division in New York; In the vernacular, our relationships went “way back.” We were thrust into energy economics at the outset of the 1970s oil crises and Jack was very quickly a key resource to us in our early careers.

David Knapp found himself deemed an oil expert, having worked as a consultant on a World Trade Model for the CIA in the late 1960s; as oil was then and is now the largest component of merchandise trade in both volume and value, hence Knapp was invited to become part of President Nixon’s Project Independence at the Department of Energy and its predecessor Federal Energy Administration. Dave DeAngelo found himself working as the energy forecaster in an electric utility with a service territory limited to central eastern Pennsylvania provided a somewhat parochial perspective of energy markets. As David Knapp, Dave DeAngelo needed to quickly gain insight into the workings of international oil and Jack was a big part of that quest. As an entrée to broader energy markets, Dave approached Helmut Frank with the idea of forming a chapter in Philadelphia for the recently (1977) formed IAEE. Helmut put him in contact with Bill Finan. Bill suggested that Jack be selected as our first leader. In June 1980 the first meeting of the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of IAEE was held.

Our officer slate was:

Jack Wilkinson (Chief Economist Sun Company), President,
F. Gerald Adams (University of Pennsylvania), Vice President,
Bill Finan (Technicon Analytic Research, Inc), Secretary and
David DeAngelo (PP&L), Treasurer.

The officers and the chapter were appropriately eclectic with much of the same mix that reflects the diversity/strength of IAEE and USAEE to this day.

Under Jack’s leadership the Philadelphia Chapter grew quickly and in 1985 the Chapter hosted the very successful North American IAEE Meeting. Shortly, thereafter in 1987 Jack was elected President of IAEE. David and Dave were fortunate to serve several years with Jack and others Dave as Treasurer of IAEE and David as VP Chapter Liaison and VP Finance. It was this mentorship by Jack for which we are both so grateful. We should also add that we’ve seen this mentorship across IAEE and USAEE throughout our association within its affiliated organizations. An attribute we find commendable. In summary, Jack was a leader, a doer, and a gentleman with a great sense of humor. IAEE, USAEE, and our energy economics profession benefitted much from Jack’s presence.

Take care, Jack. God Bless your family: wife Olivia, daughter Karen and son Jack Jr.

Dave DeAngelo and David Knapp

Of Washington, DC, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at her Lexington, VA residence. She is survived by her two brothers, Antony Sullivan of Minneapolis and William Sullivan of San Antonio; her two children, Margaret Crandall of San Francisco and James Crandall (Monika) of Washington, DC; and three grandchildren, Timothy, Jacob, and Irene. She was married to Robert Warren Crandall from 1966 until their divorce in 2010. She retired from federal service in 2014. Born in New Haven, Conn., on June 30, 1941, she was the daughter of Francis Joseph and Hazel Thrall Sullivan. She grew up in Windsor, Conn., and graduated from the Loomis Chaffee School there. She was a Cum Laude graduate of Smith College, and also of Northwestern University, where she earned a PhD in economics. Her career in economics included teaching at Lake Forest College in Illinois and at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, and also as a member of the faculty at MIT's Sloan School and Energy Laboratory. Thereafter in Washington, she worked for Foster Associates, Inc., the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Energy, and the National Defense University (NDU), where she taught economics and other courses to military and civilian students. She was an adjunct professor of energy and security at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She published numerous papers and book reviews on energy economics and policy, and authored the book, "Energy, Economics & Politics in the Caspian Region: Dreams and Realities," published by Praeger Security International in 2006. She served as President of the National Capital Area Chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics in 2006-2007, and also in various capacities on the national council of the USAEE, which gave her its Senior Fellow Award in 2009. She won faculty research awards at NDU in both 2008 and 2009. In 1991 CIA awarded her the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement for her work on energy topics in the first Gulf War. She was known for her excellent command of her subjects, enthusiasm, and extraordinary teaching capabilities. A memorial reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, May 17, 2019 at Carmon Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor, Conn. Interment will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, CT. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the or the . Arrangements by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, VA and Carmon Funeral Home, Windsor, CT.

Published in The Washington Post on May 8, 2019