Frederick L. Jenks, Jr.
January 3, 1942 – October 24, 2010

Frederick L. “Rick” Jenks, Jr. passed away on the morning of October 24th, 2010 at Big Bend Hospice, Tallahassee, Florida at the age of 68.

Rick excelled in all aspects of life, personal and professional. He loved more than anything making others laugh. Rick Jenks resided in Tallahassee with his wife, Lynn Priestley, a local artist. In addition to his beloved Lynn, he is survived by his son Andrew Jenks, a school psychologist in Jacksonville, and sister Marylee Hershey and family of Pennsylvania.

He was the son of the late Frederick Lynn Jenks, Sr. and Mary “Boots” Jenks formerly of Olean, New York. Rick, aka “The Sheik” and “El Gato” is also remembered as one of the original charter members of the Tallahassee Soccer Association (TSA) in 1982. He played goalkeeper for the Tallahassee Blues for seven years, 1986-1994, and was a youth soccer coach in Tallahassee for 13 years. Dr. Jenks was a professor emeritus at Florida State University, having joined the faculty in 1971. As a member of the faculty of the College of Education, he designed and directed the internationally-recognized doctoral and master's programs in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESL/TEFL), which he led for more than twenty years.

Jenks served as major advisor for fifty doctoral dissertations and more than 300 master's degree recipients. He founded and directed the Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) at FSU now named the Frederick L. Jenks Center for Intensive English Studies which was dedicated in his honor earlier this year. CIES has educated thousands of students and continues to do so, to strengthen their English language skills to prepare for full-time study at English-speaking universities and professions. Directing CIES was his passion from 1979 to 2002. From late 1996 through 2000, he was the Director of Florida State University Panama Canal Branch campus in the Panama Canal Zone. A popular speaker and writer, Jenks published and delivered over 100 keynote addresses and papers at international and national conferences.

Recently he was an adjunct professor at Flagler College, a Fulbright Scholar and Senior Specialist, a legal expert witness in second language assessment and an advocate in the Florida legislature for public-school English language learners. His profession never felt like a job. He truly loved his work. Rick was highly involved in his college fraternity, the Pan Sophics of Grove City College and their upcoming 100th anniversary next September. He was a super Dad and fabulous husband, he is missed.

A private event is being planned by the family. Donations in his memory can be made to The Center for Intensive English Studies, 145 Convocation Way, PO Box 3061271, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1271.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Riggins Road Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.