In Memoriam: Reverend Jan Vickery Knost
It is with heavy hearts that we must report the passing of Jan Knost. Jan passed away on Sunday, August 22, just as Hurricane Henri made landfall in Charlestown and knocked the power out. Jan’s passing was coincidental to the storm, but there is some symbolism in this great light of our community, Jan Knost, being lost at the same time all our lights went out.
Jan leaves much behind: his many friends and loving family; his poetry and other published writings; his past congregations; and a lifetime of activism, service and good deeds.
Jan’s work as a Unitarian minister took him to 8 cities in 6 states and to 16 foreign countries. From England to Massachusetts to New York to New Jersey to Texas to New Mexico to Florida to Transylvania, Romania! And those are just the ones we know about. Jan was elected trustee to the Massachusetts Bay District of the Unitarian Continental Board of Trustees, representing 67 congregations and he was a member of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, which credentialed all incoming ministers to the Unitarian denomination.
Locally, and in “retirement,” Jan was an Interim Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of South County, and he served as Chaplain to the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew in Boston. Until recently, he filled temporary vacancies as minister in Unitarian congregations throughout Rhode Island and neighboring states, presided at weddings and other important life events.
Besides his service as a minister, Jan dedicated his life to public service. Jan was a member of the Charlestown Charter Revision Committee, an elected member of the Charlestown Planning Commission, a member of the Regulatory Commission for the RI Department of Environmental Management, a co-leader of the Buckeye Brook Road Improvement Group, a co-founder of Music Serving the Elderly in Boston, a member of a foundation in San Antonio, Texas that assists the poor, Chairman of Public Relations for Planned Parenthood in Houston, Texas, and on a committee to support Serbian women. For the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, Jan served for over ten years as a member of our Steering Committee.
Jan has been a part of history – he marched in 1967 in Selma, Alabama for social justice!
Jan is the author of four books of poetry and various published articles and sermons in professional journals. His most recent book, Word Cairns, is a collection of Jan’s writings published in 2015 and available via Amazon.
Jan received a BS in Psychology and a Masters of Divinity, and he did post graduate work at Oxford University in England.
Jan was also down to earth, with a great sense of humor. We will miss him very much!
Our thoughts are with his wife Lorna and his children and grandchildren.
You can read more about Jan at his obituary.
From the obituary: “There will be a Memorial Service at a date to be determined at First Church & Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts. Although cards are welcome, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a cause in Jan’s name, that will contribute to the greater good of humanity.”
August 25, 2021 @ 3:37 pm
Jan played golf for the comraderie, the good times, good conversation, and a quick laugh. He made the game interesting in a personal way. We never kept score; we never had the need. We weren’t out there to compete, just to have a good time and we excelled at that. I hope heaven is an eighteen hole golf course so Jan can continue to spread good cheer.