Jacquelyn Mayer
Jacquelyn Mayer | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 20, 1942 Sandusky, Ohio, U.S. |
| Education | Northwestern University |
| Occupation(s) | Health care activist Motivational speaker Beauty pageant director |
| Title | Miss Vacationland 1962 Miss Ohio 1962 Miss America 1963 |
| Predecessor | Maria Fletcher |
| Successor | Donna Axum |
| Spouse | John Townsend |
| Children | 2 |
Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer (born August 20, 1942) is an American actress and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Ohio 1962 and Miss America 1963[1] and currently travels the United States as a motivational speaker, noted for her recovery from a near-fatal stroke suffered at age 28.[2]
Early life and education[edit]
Mayer graduated Sandusky High School in 1960, spending much of her senior year in Austria as an exchange student, and then attended Northwestern University, where a friend encouraged her to enter the Miss America contest for the scholarship money offered to the winner.[3][4]
Pageantry[edit]
She was first crowned Miss Vacationland (representing her native Sandusky and Lake Erie Islands region) in 1962 - becoming the first ever winner of the crown, then went on to win the Miss Ohio pageant later that year.[5] On September 8, 1962, at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, she was crowned Miss America 1963.[6][7]
Mayer is an executive director of the Miss Vacationland pageant.[5]
Health issues and activism[edit]
In 1970, Mayer suffered a stroke[8] in the early hours following a Thanksgiving evening with her family.[9] She was rushed to the hospital and though surviving, spent the next seven years in rehabilitation needing to re-learn such simple tasks as the alphabet and basic motor functions.[10][11] Thirty years later, having regained the ability to walk and speak, Mayer considers herself 90% recovered.[12] Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, formerly known as Providence Hospital, features the Jackie Mayer Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center.[4]
For over 20 years, Mayer has dedicated her life to assisting stroke survivors and their families. She has been a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association,[13] made educational films to raise stroke awareness, helped found the National Stroke Association,[14] and has appeared on Good Morning America and The Phil Donahue Show, and her story has been featured in magazines such as People and Family Circle.
Personal life[edit]
She married John Townsend and has two children, Bill Townsend, a technology entrepreneur,[15] and Kelly Rostic, a former anchorwoman with NBC and Fox.[4][16]
Awards and honors[edit]
Beauty pageants
- Miss Vacationland 1962
- Miss Ohio 1962
- Miss America 1963
Halls of Fame
- Ohio Women's Hall of Fame inductee (class of 1997)[4]
State/Local
- Section of State Route 2 running through Erie County named "Jackie Mayer Miss America Highway".[17][18]
Other
- Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lourdes College
References[edit]
- ^ Associated Press (1962-09-07). "Miss America Crown Won by Ohio's Jacquelyn Mayer". Gadsden Times. p. 1.
- ^ "Stroke victim to discuss warning signs". Deseret News. 2001-02-18.
- ^ "Miss America Owes Much To Her Music". Owosso Argus-Press. 1962-11-12. p. 8.
- ^ a b c d "Former Miss America rebounds from stroke to help other people". Toledo Blade. 2000-04-23. p. 2.1.
- ^ a b "Sandusky Ohio News | Sandusky Register". sanduskyregister.com. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "A Former Miss America Tells of Her Crowning Achievement: Recovery from a Stroke". PEOPLE. May 17, 1982.
- ^ "Mayer bio - Ohio History.org". Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ United Press International (1971-11-11). "Beauty queen claims pill caused her to have stroke". Montreal Gazette. p. 29.
- ^ United Press International (1970-12-01). "Full recovery seen for '63 Miss America". The Bryant Times. p. 3.
- ^ "It's A Long Way From Atlantic City To Meadow Land". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1978-09-12. p. 2.
- ^ Associated Press (1982-09-08). "Former Miss America speaks about her life". Wilwaukee Sentinel. p. 7.
- ^ "Stroke Awareness". Reading Eagle. 1999-05-19. p. B4.
- ^ "Remarkable Recovery". Times Daily. 1988-05-20. p. 2A.
- ^ "Stroke survivor cited". Pittsburgh Press. 1992-02-22. p. W2.
- ^ "Amati Foundaion & Extreme Makeover: Home Edition". amatifoundation.org. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
- ^ Sims, Damon (2009-04-20). "Ohio 2 Changes its Name on Stretch of Road to Include Carl B. Stokes' Name". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
- ^ Ohio Revised Code Section 5533.66