Jack was a Renaissance man. He loved so many things. When I first met him, he loved fishing, bowling, skiing, tennis, and golf, just to name a few.
He loved teaching, technology, Star Trek, and science fiction. He loved great art, photography, historical places and things, astronomy, and outer space. He loved travel and doing things he had never experienced before. He opened my world to so many wonderful places and opportunities.
When I asked Jack’s friends what I should mention, they all said, "You have to mention his love of great food." One of his friends said, “When we went out together, I always sat next to Jack to listen to him eat. If something was truly tasty, you could see him close his eyes and say ‘hmmm hmmm hmmm’. He always hummed his way through a great meal."
Jack brought his love of many things into his classroom. He developed an outdoor Ed program and ran a five-day overnight camp for sixth graders. There, he developed the night walk where he did an astronomy study with the students. One of his former students contacted him to say he was now in charge of a planetarium in Northern California.
Jack was an early adopter of technology and, in science classes, made a connection with scientists and astronauts at NASA, where his students could ask questions and hear from them.
After retiring from public education, he became the technology coordinator at a parochial school, advised a company that was developing software for schools, and chaired a technology committee for the diocese. He loved every minute of it and felt he had found his purpose.
Most of all, he loved his family and his friends. He was a kind, good-hearted person. He could be fun-loving and laid back. He would do anything for you. He was quirky and eccentric about many things, but you loved him because of it, not in spite of it.
He also rescued Greyhounds and enjoyed living with Evelyn, Herbie, Nutmeg, and Dora at different times when he volunteered at the Buffalo Greyhound Association.
He was loyal to the people he loved. He bragged about his step-kids, loved his grandkids, and his family. He was devoted to his church family, the men’s book club, his golf group, and his forever friends. He adored his nieces and nephews and considered them his own.
Finally, he treated me like a princess. He loved me with his whole heart and soul. My life with Jack was a gift. Sending him into space is my gift back. He will definitely be there in spirit. When I look at the stars, Jack, I’ll be seeing you.
Love,
Susan
