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Obituary for John William Jack

COLONIE - John William Jack, 83, passed away on August 27, 2016 at St. Peter’s Hospital. He was born on February 22, 1933 in Delhi, NY, the third child and only son of D. Herbert and Clara Amos Jack. He grew up on the Jack Family dairy farm at Fraser in the Town of Delhi.

John attended the local one-room school through fifth grade and then went to Delaware Academy, graduating in 1951. He participated in track and field and cross country and played important roles in several class plays. As a farm youth, he was very involved in many aspects of the family farm including 4-H club, annually exhibiting Guernsey cattle at county and state fairs. His father died when John was 14 years old, so upon high school graduation he entered a partnership with his mother in operating the family dairy.

It was through 4-H Club activities that John met the light of his life, Sally Edwards, also from Delhi. They married in August 1957 and lived on the family farm, while Sally completed her BA at Hartwick College, Oneonta. In 1959, they moved to Ithaca and John entered Cornell University where he received BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Economics. From 1963-65, he served on staff at Cornell. He then moved to Albany in 1965, when he was hired as a fiscal economist by the State of New York. In 1969-70, John received a National Institute of Public Affairs award to attend Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, receiving an MPA prior to returning to New York State government. In 1971, he moved to the NYS Department of Health as a research economist and worked there until his retirement in 1995.

During his years in Albany, John continued his involvement with university life, earning a Doctorate of Public Affairs from UAlbany, while working full-time. He placed a high value on living a life of service to others and expressed that by serving as adjunct faculty at the graduate programs of Union College and Russell Sage. As a long-time Colonie resident, he served 24 years on the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals following seven years on its Conservation Advisory Council.

History, genealogy and travel, domestic and international, were John's primary hobby interests, actively shared by his wife. Over several years, the Jacks visited all 50 State capitals. In addition, they visited more than 55 countries and seven continents. As part of his interests in family history and genealogy, John traced his Jack and Amos family ancestry to the very old Scottish town of Auchterarder. Several visits there were especially exciting and rewarding as that town’s historical society was able to locate very early Jack and Amos family records. Often, the Jacks were able to meet and become acquainted with long-lost relatives in Scotland, Australia, Canada and South Africa.

Upon retirement, John and Sally remained active in several areas. Both became Volunteer Ambassadors at the Albany International Airport as a way to remain in touch with a wide range of people, while providing a valued community service. John's other interests in his retirement years included planning and coordinating informal lunches of his high school class several times each year.

John was predeceased by his parents, D. Herbert Jack and Clara Amos Jack, and sister Eleanor Howard. In addition to his wife, Sally Edwards Jack of Colonie, he is survived by: his son, Kevin (Gina) Jack of Glenmont; daughter Karen (Andy) Ferguson of Dansville, NY; three granddaughters, Kate Ferguson, Jen Jack and Lauren Jack; his sister, Marion Stickney of Irondequoit, NY, and ten nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be 3 to 6 PM on Friday, Sept. 2 at the Bowen & Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Road in Latham. The funeral service will be Saturday, Sept. 3 at 11 am at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery in Delhi, NY on Monday at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, 46610 State Highway 10, Delhi, NY 13753.

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