SOUTH DEERFIELD - Jack Tannenbaum, 76, of South Deerfield, died suddenly on Feb. 10, 2010 at Baystate Medical Center.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 17, 1933, the son of Adolph Tannenbaum and Jenny (Solkow) Tannenbaum. He grew up in Brooklyn and New Rochelle, N.Y. He was predeceased by three sisters, Miriam, Fanny and Minna. As a youth, Jack was popular in school, was an athlete and worked several jobs at a time, including in his father's pharmacy.

In 1951 he attended Fordham College of Pharmacy but soon transferred to Hunter College, where he studied history and education and graduated in 1955. He served in the Army from 1956 to 1958. After discharge he taught at Frederick Douglass Junior High School in Harlem, N.Y. Jack was successful teaching students considered difficult by other teachers.

In 1963 he went to Oregon State University to earn a master's in counseling. In 1965 he became assistant director of a Job Corps in Excelsior Springs, Mo., where he assisted young women with learning new skills and finding jobs. In 1970 Jack went to work for Bell Laboratories (AT&T) in New Jersey, developing and leading training programs including workshops to reduce racism and sexism in the workplace. He retired in 2002.

For over 30 years he served Charas, an organization that supported the Puerto Rican community of the Lower East Side in Manhattan, N.Y. Jack moved to South Deerfield in 1997. He remained active while in the Pioneer Valley and enjoyed water aerobics, Latin dancing and writing his memoirs. He started the STEPS Program to support ex-prisoners, and helped nonprofit organizations including ACT NOW for girls, the Prison Birth Project and other projects through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

In 2004 he published his book, "Getting Through the Tough Stuff: The Lovers How-To Book for Communicating About Difficult Issues in Their Relationship." It is based on a theory that he and Marybeth Home, of Northampton, developed called the Reflective Agreement Process (RAP). He led RAP workshops through the 1990s. Jack dedicated his life to helping others.

He leaves his wife, Linda Tannenbaum of South Deerfield; his son, Andrew Tannenbaum of Brookline and his daughter, Jane Jacobus of Shutesbury; their mother, Shirley Tannenbaum of Jerusalem, Israel; grandchildren, Dylan and Miranda Jacobus; stepchildren, Simone Topal of Northampton and Rachel Topal of Eastham; stepgrandchildren, Rowen and Sasha McEnaney; and nieces and nephews in New York, Virginia, Florida and Connecticut.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Prison Birth Project, P.O. Box 1253, Northampton, MA 01060; ACT NOW, 409 Main St., Suite 211, Amherst, MA 01002; or Franklin County Home Care, 330 Montague City Road, Suite 1, Turners Falls, MA 01376.