Col. Jack Lingo dies at 91

Col. Jack Lingo, the founder of Jack Lingo Realtor in Rehoboth Beach, died Nov. 13 at the age of 91.

Born in 1924, Lingo was a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a B-52 squadron commander. Lingo served in the South Pacific during World War II and the Korean War, attaining the rank of colonel. In 1975, Lingo retired and moved back to his native Rehoboth, where he founded the company that bears his name.

Realtor Camilla Conlon knew Lingo for 30 years, and has worked for the company since 1997.

"It's a sad day," she said. "He's going to be missed. He was a fixture. Always a smile and something nice to say."

Conlon said Lingo was not full time when she started but that he was a presence in the office up until the last few years. She said the company holds weekly staff meetings on Wednesday to go over the last week's sales and new listings. Conlon said during the good weeks, Lingo's son, Bill, who had taken over the office when she started, would be excited to call his dad and share the good news. She said Lingo always kept his eye on his namesake business.

"He was a great guy," Conlon said. "He always had a joke."

She said she would remember Lingo's smile and the twinkle in his eye.

Sharon Emerson was the first employee hired by Lingo when he opened his own firm. She said she had known the Lingo family for years, going back to her childhood in Lewes.

She joined Lingo at the company's first location on North First Street, their offices for the firm's first year. In 1975, the company moved to its now- familiar location on Rehoboth Avenue.

Emerson, who is no longer active in the company, said Lingo was very generous and always had time for people. He was always willing to help, she said,  He was very knowledgeable and got in on the ground floor of the real estate business just as it became a profession where someone could make a living from it, she said.

Emerson said Lingo had a contagious laugh; she said it was the thing she would remember about him. She said he imparted his wisdom to his four sons, who have their father's savvy and have picked up the ball and run with it.

"He was an example of how to do it right," she said. "He knew everyone. He had a great personality and smile. He was a great example for younger people. He was the backbone of the real estate business in Rehoboth."

Realtor Henry McKay said Lingo was the heart of the company.

“It was his life,” McKay said. “He was just a great guy.”

Lingo's son Bill said, "He would want everyone to keep on working."

Rehoboth Mayor Sam Cooper said while he did not know Lingo very well, he recalled a conversation during the early days of the Rehoboth Avenue Streetscape project. He said Lingo was initially not supportive of the project, but after seeing how it turned out, Lingo thanked him.

"I thought he was a real gentleman," Cooper said.

The firm has grown to include offices in Lewes and Millsboro. Lingo’s four sons, John, Derrick, Bryce and Bill are all part of the company, and the next generation of Lingos entered the business when Bill’s daughter, Carrie, joined the firm, along with her husband Murray Padgett.

In a statement, the company said Lingo requested a private funeral.

Obituary