Friday, October 14, 2011
Jack was one of the greatest teachers in my life. He made geometry at St. Anthony's a period I looked forward to. I remember him palming a basketball to make a point about spheres!
More important to me, he was a true mentor. I worked with him on the Friar Scoreboard and the Yearbook. Corny as it may sound, he always challenged me to be the best that I can be. But he did so in a spirit of love and caring. He always listened to me and was there for me in good times and bad.
Jack was a real "renaissance" man. He had no boundaries about what he was interested in and what he would talk about - be it religion, politics (passionately!), science, math (of course!),culture, computers, art, food. But for Jack - it was all about dialogue with a smile, not the angry shouting that passes for discourse today.
Ah yes, I mentioned the smile. More than anything else, I think that beautiful smile of his, and the twinkle in his eye, sums Jack up for me and is the memory I will always treasure most.
I regret few things in my life but one of them is that I let the crazy busy of career and family keep me from staying in touch with Jack in later years.
I will miss Jack dearly and I wish I could be with you all to say goodbye but, unfortunately, I am sick with a nasty flu or I would be there.
Wherever the spirit of Jack is, I know there will be love.
Kevin
