L. (Jack) Kramer, 66, University of Florida Accounting professor, died Wednesday April 17, 2013 at E.T. York Care Center after a lengthy battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Jack, the only child of John and Florence Kramer, was born in Detroit and grew up in Dearborn, Michigan. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Michigan Dearborn campus in 1968.  During his undergraduate education, Jack was in the Co-op program working at General Motors in the accounting area of the Cadillac plant in Detroit. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, he joined the Navy.  After Officers Candidate School, he attended the Supply Corp School in Athens, Ga.  where he met Sandy, his wife of 43 years. He was stationed in Mayport, Florida and served as supply officer on the U.S. Allen M. Sumner, DD692.  During his time on board, the ship did two Mediterranean Sea deployments (including steaming off the coast of Israel during the 7 Days War) and steaming off the coast of Haiti during a period of revolution.  The ship also visited Guantanamo Bay in Cuba where Jack played golf on a golf course with a minefield for out-of-bounds.

Upon completing his Navy commitments, he returned to Michigan and earned his MBA and Ph.D. in Accounting at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  His first job after completing his Ph.D. was at University of Texas at Austin.  In the fall of 1979, Jack joined the accounting faculty at UF where he worked until 2004.  Jack held the Arthur Andersen  chair in Accounting and served as Director of the Fisher School of Accounting and Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration from August 1987 to August 1989 and again from May 1998 to January 2004. For the 1989-1990 academic year, he was the interim Dean of the College of Business. He authored several textbooks and numerous research articles.

 Jack was very active in the national organization for accounting faculty, the American Accounting Association.  As a founding member of the American Taxation Association, Jack served as president of the organization and as editor of its research journal.  In 2001, Jack was honored by this national organization of tax accounting faculty when they awarded him the Ray M. Sommerfeld Outstanding Tax Educator Award. 

Jack was supportive of the schools his sons attended and the activities that his sons loved .  He coached Youth Soccer when his sons were playing.  He was a cub scout leader, and served as Chair of the Parent’s committee for Trinity’s Boy Scout Troop.  He chaired the football parking committee at J.J. Finley Elementary School for many years and was Treasurer of that school’s PTA.  He also served as President of the PTA at Gainesville High School.

Jack was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church.  He loved watching all kinds of auto races but drag racing was his favorite.  He was treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of Gatornational  Boosters.  He also loved bowling and bowled in several different Gainesville leagues.    

Jack is survived by his wife, Sandy and their four sons – John (Galadriel Billington), Andrew, Steve (Erin) and Mike and one grandson, Evan. In addition, Kelly Karson was like a daughter to Jack and her daughter, Joslyn was the granddaughter of his heart.   Jack was preceded in death by his parents and by his first grandson, Connor. 

A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church on Friday, April 26 at 2 p.m.  followed by a reception at the church.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Haven Hospice