Jennings Roland Backus
September 24, 1933 — June 18, 2022
Jennings Roland Backus, known as “J.R.”, age 88, passed away peacefully in his home in Delray Beach, Florida on Saturday, June 18th, 2022. He was born on September 24, 1933, in Albemarle, North Carolina to Thelma Howard and Charles Furr Rowland. He was married to his wife, Gloria Martinetti Backus for 66 years.
Jennings moved to Washington D.C. with his mother in the 1940’s where he attended private school. After several curriculums in the study of architecture and agriculture, Jennings enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Medic and was stationed in Texas. After an honorable discharge, he moved to Miami, Florida to become certified as a commercial pilot. In Miami, he met Gloria and her son, Dexter Martinetti. They were married in Miami Springs on November 30th, 1956. He completed his degree at the Kendall Flying School in August of 1956 and was hired with Allegheny Airlines in Washington D.C. in 1957. Jennings flew the Douglas DC-3, Curtiss C-46, Martin 202, Convair 440, DC-9 and Boeing 727. Jennings adored his workshop and built a single engine one man airplane in his home garage in Bethesda. He was named “Jim” or “Jimbo “by his flight crew when they learned the actor named, Jim Backus, was the voice for Mr. Magoo and the Millionaire on Gilligan’s Island.
Jennings, Gloria and Dexter resided in Bethesda, Maryland and had two daughters, Patricia Backus Jacobs and Diana Backus Sturdy. In 1971, he moved the family to Clearwater, Florida where he purchase a beautiful deep waterfront home on Island Estates and enjoyed his ski boat, cabin cruiser and Aqua Cat catamaran. He had several fishing adventures and would bring fresh grouper home for a family fish fry. His flight hobby included flying his amphibian airplane which he would land in nearby lakes and acrobatic flights from Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport.
Jennings completed his Bachelor of Science at Barry University and retired after 35 years of commercial flying, acquired his yacht captain license and purchased a beautiful Taiwanese Teak wood 50’ trawler named “The Saint” to spend winters in Florida and summers in Maryland. He made several lifelong friendships in the boating world. Jennings had success in his real estate investments owning four apartment buildings in North Miami and Hallandale, Florida.
One of his life highlights was meeting his two half sisters from Atlanta, Georgia, Shirley Ann Eberhardt and Bonnie Sue Clayton in November of 1992. This reunion brought so much joy and happiness into his world.
Throughout his life, Jennings enjoyed vacations to Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Argentina, Chile, Portugal, Spain, Peru and France. He had an extreme affection for Black Labrador Retrievers and was a true animal lover. He was extremely fond of classical music and Fleetwood Mac.
Jennings was extremely blessed with three grandchildren, Christian Jacobs, Jennifer Jacobs Anderson, Cameron Sturdy and two great grandchildren, Bodhi Jacobs (4) and Rylan Anderson (7 months).
Jennings will be greatly missed by all who came to know him and his adventurous spirit. We will remember his quirky sense of humor, passion for fine rums and Southern Cuisine, flying, boating and his cat, Ginger. He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria, and devoted children, son, Dexter Backus, daughters, Patricia Jacobs, Diana Sturdy, son in law, John Sturdy, sister, Shirley Eberhardt, brother-in-law, Clyde Eberhardt, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Jennings moved to Washington D.C. with his mother in the 1940’s where he attended private school. After several curriculums in the study of architecture and agriculture, Jennings enlisted into the U.S. Army as a Medic and was stationed in Texas. After an honorable discharge, he moved to Miami, Florida to become certified as a commercial pilot. In Miami, he met Gloria and her son, Dexter Martinetti. They were married in Miami Springs on November 30th, 1956. He completed his degree at the Kendall Flying School in August of 1956 and was hired with Allegheny Airlines in Washington D.C. in 1957. Jennings flew the Douglas DC-3, Curtiss C-46, Martin 202, Convair 440, DC-9 and Boeing 727. Jennings adored his workshop and built a single engine one man airplane in his home garage in Bethesda. He was named “Jim” or “Jimbo “by his flight crew when they learned the actor named, Jim Backus, was the voice for Mr. Magoo and the Millionaire on Gilligan’s Island.
Jennings, Gloria and Dexter resided in Bethesda, Maryland and had two daughters, Patricia Backus Jacobs and Diana Backus Sturdy. In 1971, he moved the family to Clearwater, Florida where he purchase a beautiful deep waterfront home on Island Estates and enjoyed his ski boat, cabin cruiser and Aqua Cat catamaran. He had several fishing adventures and would bring fresh grouper home for a family fish fry. His flight hobby included flying his amphibian airplane which he would land in nearby lakes and acrobatic flights from Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport.
Jennings completed his Bachelor of Science at Barry University and retired after 35 years of commercial flying, acquired his yacht captain license and purchased a beautiful Taiwanese Teak wood 50’ trawler named “The Saint” to spend winters in Florida and summers in Maryland. He made several lifelong friendships in the boating world. Jennings had success in his real estate investments owning four apartment buildings in North Miami and Hallandale, Florida.
One of his life highlights was meeting his two half sisters from Atlanta, Georgia, Shirley Ann Eberhardt and Bonnie Sue Clayton in November of 1992. This reunion brought so much joy and happiness into his world.
Throughout his life, Jennings enjoyed vacations to Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Argentina, Chile, Portugal, Spain, Peru and France. He had an extreme affection for Black Labrador Retrievers and was a true animal lover. He was extremely fond of classical music and Fleetwood Mac.
Jennings was extremely blessed with three grandchildren, Christian Jacobs, Jennifer Jacobs Anderson, Cameron Sturdy and two great grandchildren, Bodhi Jacobs (4) and Rylan Anderson (7 months).
Jennings will be greatly missed by all who came to know him and his adventurous spirit. We will remember his quirky sense of humor, passion for fine rums and Southern Cuisine, flying, boating and his cat, Ginger. He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria, and devoted children, son, Dexter Backus, daughters, Patricia Jacobs, Diana Sturdy, son in law, John Sturdy, sister, Shirley Eberhardt, brother-in-law, Clyde Eberhardt, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
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