Jack Graham was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A retired Pennsylvania State Park manager, he’s been an active volunteer in many areas of state and national history. Jack is also an old-time storyteller who performs as Pennsylvania Jack. As Pennsylvania Jack, he has performed at events at the state museum in Harrisburg, and at many other venues and events. Jack is also a longtime lighthouse aficionado who has written many articles – around 50 in all – for the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s quarterly journal The Keeper’s Log and for Lighthouse Digest magazine.
Jack’s wife Tobi Graham grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. Her family spent summers on the Jersey shore within sight of Barnegat Lighthouse. Tobi taught both art and French in grades K through 12 for many years. She is an accomplished photographer and uses her photos to give illustrated talks on wild flowers and herbs, and more recently to accompany Jack’s articles on lighthouse topics.
Some of the places where Jack and Tobi have worked as docents:
Jack and Tobi married in 1970 and have a son and a daughter, both of whom also have a son and a daughter. Since 2005 Jack and Tobi have served as lighthouse caretakers at sites throughout the United States – 17 locations in all. The places they’ve lived have included the historic light stations at Seguin Island and Little River Island in Maine, several in Michigan, Piney Point in Maryland, Cape Lookout in North Carolina, and even Swallowtail Light Station in New Brunswick, Canada.
This is the first of two parts.
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Jeremy D’Entremont is the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He is the president and historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and he has lectured and narrated cruises throughout the Northeast and in other regions. He is also the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society podcast, “Light Hearted.” He can be emailed at Jeremy@uslhs.org
Hi Jeremy,
I thoroughly enjoyed your conversation with Jack and Tobi Graham.
They are a unique grand couple who have done so much to preserve the
history of lighthouses by sharing their adventures, research and stories.
They certainly do create a magical lure to visit lighthouses.
I am looking forward to their next podcast.
I understand they are leaving this Monday to serve as “keepers” at Point Wilson
Lighthouse in Washington.
Thanks for producing these programs.
I was just reintroduced to program by Jack today.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Jackie. The conversation with Tobi and Jack was very enjoyable, and I have a blast doing the podcast every week.