PASSINGS

Comedian acted in TV commercials

Jack Eagle, 81, a roly-poly comedian and actor who appeared in commercials, most notably as Brother Dominic in a Xerox ad that first aired during the 1977 Super Bowl, died Jan. 10 in New York, Newsday reported. The cause of death was not given.

The 5-foot-4, 210-pound Jewish comedian had a stand-up act in the Catskills before landing the role that gave him international recognition. Playing a medieval monk, he was able to quickly reproduce 500 illuminated manuscripts, to which his abbot exclaimed, "It's a miracle!"

"A general call had gone out for a cherubic type," Eagle told a Times reporter in 1977. "Of course, I've never thought of myself that way. I've always seen myself as more of a Gregory Peck type."

In 1978, Eagle said in an interview with the Associated Press that he earned more from his commercial work in the previous two years than he had in all his prior work in show business.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 15, 1926, Eagle played the trumpet during the big-band era. He began doing commercials in the early 1960s. Among his other notable parts was Mr. Cholesterol in commercials for Fleischmann's margarine in the 1970s.

Donald R. Wheeler

Claremont McKenna College life trustee

Donald R. Wheeler, 85, the former chairman of the board of Claremont Men's College and a life trustee of the school now known as Claremont McKenna College, died Jan. 9 at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach after a heart attack, the college announced.

Wheeler, a prominent local real estate developer and investor, was born June 16, 1922, in Pomona to a family of Claremont pioneers.

After graduating from Claremont High School, he attended Pomona College, but his education was interrupted by World War II. He served in the Army Air Forces in the South Pacific. Toward the end of the war, he completed his college degree at Pomona.

Wheeler was elected to the CMC board of trustees in 1971, served as chairman from 1976 to 1979 and was elected a life trustee in 1995. He began his tenure as chairman the same year the college implemented a plan to become coeducational.

Wheeler served as chairman of the Bank of Industry from 1980 to 1990 and was active on numerous civic boards, including those of the local American Red Cross, Pomona Valley Community Hospital and the Claremont United Church of Christ.

John McHale Sr.

Former president of the Montreal Expos