Passion Personified

Melrose resident Jackie Wattenberg poses with her recently published book, We've Got To Stop Our Wars—Or Else!

A quick glance around Jackie Wattenberg’s living room reveals a lot about the 85-year-old Melrose resident. The piano says she’s into music. The framed paintings indicate her interest in art, and the books upon books upon books show her reverence for the written word. But Wattenberg is more than just interested in music, art, and writing—she’s passionate about them.

“Yes, I’m a passionate person,” said Wattenberg. “I’m passionate, most of all, about peace and about music and art.”

Wattenberg’s reference to her passion for peace was demonstrated through the publication of her first book, We’ve Got To Stop Our Wars—Or Else!, in April 2008. The book, which was self published under her pen and maiden name Jacqueline Taylor, details a theme that has been of interest to her for most of her life. “I’ve been protesting our wars for fifty years,” said Wattenberg. “To get my message across, I put it in writing.”

Wattenberg was responsible for all aspects of the writing, editing, and publishing process. She used a computer to draft the content for her book, served as her own editor, and worked closely with the publishing company, right down to designing the cover. Though this is the first book Wattenberg has had published, it’s certainly not her first go at writing.

Living and working in Buffalo, New York, Wattenberg was a reporter and art critic for the Buffalo Evening News. She continued to express her passion for critiquing and writing when she moved to Illinois and then to Salem, Massachusetts. Today, Wattenberg writes for the Melrose Free Press where she serves as art correspondent, critiquing local art, music, and drama. She reviews Melrose’s annual art show and several musical performances by the Melrose Symphony Orchestra and the Polymnia Choral Society.

Wattenberg’s columns in the Melrose Free Press, where she’s been writing for 10 years, reveal her passion for art, music, and peace, but her list of passions doesn’t end there. Tack teaching onto that list, too.

“Recently I’ve been busy with my book, but I’ve taught for 40 years,” said Wattenberg. Having graduated from Julliard, she teaches voice lessons locally and continues to sing herself. She’s also the program chair of Melrose’s branch of The Beethoven Society, a musical group that performs monthly. Wattenberg has also taught a speech and writing course at UMASS Boston and continues to teach creative writing classes to adults in Melrose.

What’s to differentiate between interests and passions? Look at Wattenberg. She doesn’t just like art, she critiques it. She doesn’t just appreciate singing, she teaches it. She doesn’t just advocate for peace, she writes a book!

And she may not have written her last. She predicts her next book will be about yet another one of her passions. “I may write about my family,” says Wattenberg.