Jack David Segal

Jack David Segal passed away February 3, 2026 at the age of 80 after a recent cancer diagnosis. He was husband to Karen Puschel, father to Jehan L Segal (Stone Applegate), brother to Robert Segal (Joan), brother-in-law to Sandy King and Susan Gahagan (Jack), uncle to Laura Stein (Sam Goldfeder) and Leigh McNamara (Joe), Elizabeth Stone (George), David Segal (Shannon Diamondstein), Megan Aney (Zach), James King (Dianna), and great-uncle to nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Morris and Rose Segal and his sister Sandra Stein. Jack grew up in north Philadelphia, the third child of a hard-working Jewish family. From an early age, Jack developed a strong interest in nuclear weaponry, spurred by the Cold War and resultant space race. Later as a U.S. diplomat, Jack was particularly proud to author the Nuclear Risk Reduction Agreement with the Soviet Union signed during the Reagan Administration and still operational today. He also helped negotiate the START treaty, the first to reduce strategic nuclear weapons. With his wife, Karen, Jack opened the first western diplomatic mission to the 40 million people of Central Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In addition to postings in Israel, Russia, Botswana, Greece, the White House, and the Netherlands, he served as Political Advisor to the NATO Commander responsible for operations in Afghanistan for ten years. In that capacity, he made 40 trips to Afghanistan. His diplomatic career was prompted and shaped by two tours of duty in Vietnam after he was drafted in the late 1960s. He was awarded the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division in Dau Tieng during the Tet Offensive, and at the 25th Infantry Division Headquarters at Cu Chi. Never one to take easy assignments, Jack handled many crises during his 35 year diplomatic career. Whether incoming SCUD missiles in Israel, Russian tanks outside U.S. Embassy walls in Moscow, briefing the President in the Oval Office, or dealing with warlords in Afghanistan, Jack was unflappable under fire. Former colleagues described Jack as the “adult in room” and a “calming presence” who always stood up for his co-workers. He is beloved by many around the world, particularly his former Russian staff in Yekaterinburg and his NATO staff in the Netherlands. Upon his retirement to Traverse City Michigan, Jack co-chaired the International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College with his wife Karen. He discovered a love and true talent as a teacher, offering many highly sought-after classes on foreign policy both at NMC and at Norwich University where he developed a unique class on ‘diplomacy in action’ for students pursuing a master’s degree. He advised and helped many young people interested in a diplomatic career. He and Karen were named NMC Fellows in 2024, Northwestern Michigan College’s highest honor. There was nothing Jack loved better than watching football, hockey, and more recently, F1 racing with his son Jehan. Like everything else he tackled in life, he approached his own athletic endeavors with discipline and tenacity, whether training for marathons when he was younger, learning how to speed skate in the Netherlands, or enjoying downhill skiing. He loved life, he loved his career, and he deeply loved his family. Jack was a longtime and beloved member of Traverse City’s Temple Beth Shalom. Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg will conduct a funeral service at 11:00am on Thursday, February 5th at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home with visitation one hour prior. The service will be followed by internment in the Jewish section of Oakwood Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome. Please visit RJFH.tv to watch the service live, and reynolds-jonkhoff.com for more information. Thank you to the many people who took the time to bring treats, prepare meals, send cards or otherwise remind Jack in his last months that his life had meaning and was filled with loving and sustaining relationships. Special thanks to Dr. John Stanifer, Dr. Chris Gerling and Munson Hospice Care for exceptional care. Donations in honor of Jack are suggested to NMC’s International Affairs Forum and to Congregation Beth Shalom, both in Traverse City.

Jack David Segal

November 12, 1945 - February 3, 2026