Jack Price

Jack Price, originally Mervin J. Pribil, was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 13, 1936 to Joseph H. Pribil and Dorothy Fishman Pribil (both deceased). Jack had his Bar Mitzvah in 1949, and graduated from Heights High School in 1955, afterwards attending Ohio State University and serving his country in the US Army Reserves.

Jack settled in Columbus, Ohio, and became a successful entrepreneur. Throughout his career, he owned a vinyl record store, a record supply business, an antique shop, taught driving, and eventually established Vintage Fountain Pens in Clintonville, where he sold and repaired antique pens, cameras, and other collectibles. Always perceptive of the market, Jack later transitioned much of his business to online sales and was one of the first to run a successful eBay business. Additionally, he was a Founding Member of the Ohio Pen Show, and founded the Ohio Camera Collectors Society. Little made Jack happier than his work, and he faithfully ran his business and went into work even up to the last day of his life.

Two personal turning points came for him in 1986 and 2012, respectively. The first was when, at the age of 49, he met his daughter, Christine, and his grandson, Ryan, for the first time. Christine was 24 at the time, and they enjoyed a close relationship for the rest of his life. The second came when, at the age of 76, he was reunited to his college sweetheart and the love his life, Darlene. Jack and Darlene were married in 2013 and happily lived out the rest of his days together. They enjoyed annual get-a-ways to Florida, as well as trips to Israel and Paris (Jack was an avid collector of Napoleon memorabilia, so this was a real treat).

Jack loved history, classic movies (Gone with the Wind was his favorite), jazz and classical music (attended Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra almost every Monday night for decades), and was devoted to his family.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene, daughter Christine Barker (Ed), grandson Ryan Robinson (Tiffany) and 5 great-grandchildren, granddaughter Elizabeth Smith, sister Judy Pollak, nephew Daniel Pollak (Deborah Boyars) and great nephew Tanner, niece Debra Pollak (Thomas Grayson) and great nieces Mira and Elana, and many cousins and friends.