Mr. John Robert Croll

Jack passed away peacefully at Lions Gate Hospital on January 7, 2016. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife Sheila, his children Sandra (Alan) Turner, Geoff (Susan) and Todd (Jennifer), and by six adoring grandchildren Jessie, Natalie, Sam, Allie, Will and Josie.

Jack was born on 1927 in frosty Winnipeg into a poor but loving family. After a childhood spent moving many times, as an adult he desired a permanent home and got his wish. Jack and Sheila married in 1960 and built the house of their dreams on Bayridge Avenue in West Vancouver where they spent 40 wonderful years raising their family. He became a chartered accountant in Winnipeg in1952, and spent his career in industry in a variety of challenging financial executive roles in the forestry and mining sectors, including Placer Development, MacMillan Bloedel and Crestbrook Forest Industries from which he retired in 1992. He also served as senior economic policy advisor to Senator Jack Austin in the early 1980’s.

Jack was proud to have been a member of SFU’s first executive MBA program in 1972 and eventually became a member of SFU’s Board of Governors and received an Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 1991. Among other accomplishments, he was President of the B.C. Institute of Chartered Accountants (1987) from which he also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, was a director of the Financial Executives Institute of Canada, and served on the Council of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. of which he was awarded an honourary membership in 2002. Community involvement was important and Jack devoted his time to his church, Scouts Canada and a variety of fundraising efforts in particular the Christ Church Cathedral Restoration Project. He received the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster for the Anglican Church in 2010.

Jack greatly enjoyed time with family, especially holiday gatherings, Hawaiian vacations and “mystery trips” with the MacKinnon clan of Sidney, B.C. But mostly what his family and friends will remember is his enduring wit. To spend time with Jack was to laugh, to enjoy life and to remember not to take anything, especially yourself, too seriously.

A memorial service will be held at St. Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican Church, 4773 Piccadilly South, West Vancouver at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 16th with a reception in the church hall following. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the MS Society of Canada or the Alzheimer Society of Canada would be greatly appreciated.