We are profoundly saddened to hear of Jack's passing.
Our memories of Jack solely relate to the many years we spent as neighbours at Turtle Lake. Every spring, upon arriving for the official opening of our cottage for the season we could count on seeing Jack at work next door fiddling with something. Whether it be priming a balky water pump, patching a leaky downspout or just cleaning up winter debris, Jack loved working outside in the familiar and comforting surroundings of his beloved summer getaway. The sound of Jack's voice shouting a greeting from across the empty lot separating our properties was our acknowledgement that we had arrived and could now relax and look forward to sharing the latest lake news.
I recall the fall day when Jack had informed me of his prognosis. We we in the midst of loading bins of leaves in his Quad for a trip to the landfill. The thing that made an ultimate impression on me that day was the strength and calmness with which Jack presented the disturbing news. I will always respect Jack for his unfailing optimism and rationality in the face of his illness - never one to complain.
It will be a different feeling opening the cottage this spring without the usual thought of "Hey, looks like Jack's up", however we will take a moment to remember the many seasons over which we were fortunate enough to have enjoyed his presence.
Heartfelt condolences to Shirley and the rest of the family.
