Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Condolences to Roberta and Jack’s Family. I worked with Jack at BC Hydro from 1980 to 1986 in the Hearings/Regulatory Affairs Department. Jack was one of the nicest people I have ever worked with.
It was with sadness that I read of Jack’s passing in the BC Hydro Power Pioneers Newsletter but I did not recognize him by the name of "John". A Google search led me to his obituary where I recognized his beautiful smile and that is the way I will always remember him--gone far too soon.
Jack was a very kind person. In the early 1980’s we were working at a hearing in Cranbrook BC. As support staff, my job, along with another “girl” ( as we were called in those days) was to transcribe the day’s proceedings and send them to Head Office early the next morning. We worked quite late into the evening/night and one time it was quite late and Jack stayed behind “working” on whatever he was doing – no computers, phones, etc. We found out later he did not have to stay, but stayed behind as he did not want two “girls” to be working alone in a hotel room at night. That was Jack. What a kind person.
Jack was a great note taker and always wrote with a dark pen on a bright yellow legal pad. When he turned his pages in for typing (on a Selectric typewriter—no word processors or computers) there were “bubbles” of conversation and arrows where text was to be inserted. At the Cranbrook Hearing, my workmate said “Jack is a really nice person but his notes are as if he thinks we just put them in the washing machine and they come out neat and tidy”. That was Jack but we loved him just the same.
In the early 2000’s I was speaking to a new neighbour in Qualicum Beach. “Jerry”? had been a manager at BC Hydro and asked me if I knew Roberta and I told him I had met her several times. He then said “Roberta and Jack got married” and I was so happy to hear that.
Rest in peace, Dear Jack. My heart hurts at your loss.
Marilyn (Ronlund) Hadley
French Creek/Parksville BC
