To Marie and family on Jack’s passing:
Living across the street from the Harpers, and often hanging out at their house with Stuart and John, I saw a lot of Jack while growing up. I remember that he always seemed to have a smile on his face, remarkable in light of the chaos that reigned around him, thanks to his five kids and their ever-present pals. I think Jack’s smile came from his having made the discovery that living in the eye of a hurricane–being father to a bunch of rowdy kids, in other words–was the one true path to happiness.
I was surprised to learn that Jack had been in the Navy. I recall that he built a sailboat in his garage, and he once took a bunch of us kids sailing on Glenmore reservoir. None of us drowned, and the boat was seaworthy, so Jack obviously knew what he was doing.
I remember too a camping trip the Harpers took us on, all of us jammed into the back of the family (grey, Pontiac?) station wagon. Jack seemed unflappable as he drove this
rabble down the highway, and he maintained this unearthly calm–mostly–during the next couple of days at the campground.
Thanks for the memories, Jack, and I really hope I can meet up with Marie and the kids again some day soon.
Love,
Ron Starr
