Jacquelyn Mayer


Jacquelyn Jeanne Mayer is an American actress and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Ohio 1962 and Miss America 1963 and currently travels the United States as a motivational speaker, noted for her recovery from a near-fatal stroke suffered at age 28.

Early life and education

Mayer graduated Sandusky High School in 1960, spending much of her senior year in Austria as an exchange student, and then attended Northwestern University, where a friend encouraged her to enter the Miss America contest for the scholarship money offered to the winner.

Pageantry

She was first crowned Miss Vacationland in 1962 - becoming the first ever winner of the crown, then went on to win the Miss Ohio pageant later that year.
On September 8, 1962, at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, she was crowned Miss America 1963.
Mayer is an executive director of the Miss Vacationland pageant.

Health issues and activism

In 1970, Mayer suffered a stroke in the early hours following a Thanksgiving evening with her family. She was rushed to the hospital and though surviving, spent the next seven years in rehabilitation needing to re-learn such simple tasks as the alphabet and basic motor functions. Thirty years later, having regained the ability to walk and speak, Mayer considered herself 90% recovered. Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, formerly known as Providence Hospital, features the Jackie Mayer Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center.
For over 20 years, Mayer has dedicated her life to assisting stroke survivors and their families. She has been a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association, made educational films to raise stroke awareness, helped found the National Stroke Association, and has appeared on Good Morning America and The Phil Donahue Show, and her story has been featured in magazines such as People and Family Circle.

Personal life

She married John Townsend and has two children, Bill Townsend, a technology entrepreneur, and Kelly Rostic, a former anchorwoman with NBC and Fox.

Awards and honors

Beauty pageants
  • Miss Vacationland 1962
  • Miss Ohio 1962
  • Miss America 1963
Halls of Fame
State/Local
Other