John "Jack" Allan Wistow

He leaves Nancy (Hughes), his wife of 62 years, children Wendy, John (Tesha Gibbon), and beloved grandchildren, Jordan, Madeleine, Matilda and Adelaide. He was predeceased by his parents, Ernest and Helen and his brother, Gordon (Chris). He will be missed by brothers-in-law Jack (Ann) and Gordon (Barbara) Hughes and sister-in-law, Donna Mandryk (Peter-deceased) and his many nieces and nephews.

Jack grew up in London, Ontario, attending Beck Collegiate Institute. After attending London Teachers' College, he taught for the Scarborough Board of Education for 37 years as a teacher and principal. All who knew Jack knows how much he loved working with children and every day he spent at school was a day of joy for him.

Jack liked to have fun. On many Hallowe'ens, he and fellow principals would dress in cartoon costumes and visit local schools. They once "invaded" the Education Board offices where Jack climbed on the Director's knee. An excerpt from the SESPA newsletter reads: "In reference to the Beaver invasion...one of them was a female for sure. I got a hug from the smaller one and she was all warm and soft and cuddly".

Jack was very involved in projects and programs outside of the classroom. He and his co-chairs organized a Millionaires' Night each March for 20 years. Thousands of dollars were raised to send needy kids to a week at a summer camp. Jack was presented with the Ontario Bicentennial Medal and the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canada in recognition of his community service.

He coached the Scarborough Men Teachers' softball team, winning an Ontario championships and was involved politically in many provincial elections,

Jack retired in 1996 and travelled extensively with Nancy. They cruised in Europe and Mexico and the Caribbean, and enjoyed long stays in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii and headed to Las Vegas every Fall for a 3-day visit.

Jack and his family enjoyed many wonderful vacations: fishing at Temagami Lake with brother Gord's family, yearly March Breaks to Daytona Beach with the Suke and Little families, holidays in Jamaica, Puerta Vallarta, many cottage weeks in Muskoka and Haliburton and New Years' celebrations with friends in Buffalo There were amazing recreational times around the family pool, having celebrations and BBQ's with friends and family.

Retirement gave Jack the time for long walks with the dogs, cottage weeks with the Fosters, Worsleys and Richards, camping trips with the Wilsons, Kenneys and Kenningtons, long lunches with retired colleagues, afternoon euchre games, Argo games and many small vacations with Nancy. Of course, once the grandchildren arrived, his days were happily spent enteraining the little ones.

As the years slipped by and Covid entered daily life, Jack was content to sit at the front window, watching the birds at the feeders or the neighbours strolling by. Eventually dementia took Jack away from his family. He is missed so much but all who loved him know he is now in a better place and at peace.

A Celebration of Jack’s Life will take place on Monday, November 13, 2023 at the Giffen Mack Funeral and Cremation Centre, 4115 Lawrence Ave. East, Scarborough at 1 p.m. with visitation beginning at 12 NOON. Private family interment.

At Jack’s request, donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Society or a charity of your choice.