Feb. 16, 2002
From Bill Belden Sr.:
Jack passed away Wednesday the 6th of February.
Jack was a member of the 1948 Olympic team and trained with Jack Kelly at Vesper. He was responsible for starting rowing at Upper Merion High school in the 60's. Without him all of the programs which have come out of that area would not have existed.
My personal involvement with Jack began in 1965 when he pushed for a Crew program at Bishop Kenrick High School.
I learned to row and picked up on Jack's smiling irish story telling , his tremendous enthusiasm, imagination and energy all of which remained at the same intensity level in the year 2001 as they had in 1965.
Jack sons Jodi, Nat and Patrick also rowed.
Everyone who has ever rowed on the on the upper Schuykill owes Jack for creating the experience.
He is missed by his family and friends. Jack was an experience that no one could ever forget.
I am among those who rowed out of the Upper Merion boathouse; Jack will be missed tremendously. Thanks to Bill Belden Sr. for the remembrance.