John Laurence Rafuse

John Laurence (Jack) Rafuse 12/24/1936 - 10/11/2019 ALEXANDRIA, VA - John Laurence Rafuse, 82, passed away Friday, October 11, 2019 at the Inova Hospital in Mount Vernon, VA. He leaves his loving wife of 56 years, Patricia Ann (Wahl) Rafuse; his children Jonathan Malcolm, Heather Anne, and Amanda Louise; his sister Frances MacDonald and her three children; his grandchildren Abby, Sam, Melia and Caleb; his 11-year old golden retriever Gatsby; and many close and wonderful friends and neighbors in both Alexandria and Chatham. Jack was born December 24, 1936, son of Laurence M. Rafuse and Mary J. McDuffie Rafuse, and grew up in Milton, Massachusetts. He married Patricia Ann Wahl on September 7, 1963; together they raised their three children in Chatham, MA, Palos Verdes, CA, and Washington, DC. Jack received his BA from Stonehill College (1959), his Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame (1962), and his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame (1972). He further matriculated at Harvard University’s Kennedy Center Graduate program for senior managers in government. Family always came first and foremost for Jack. He and Patty met, married and spent summers their entire married life in Chatham on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. They are members of The Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria, and The Church of the Holy Redeemer in Chatham. He cherished his amazing family for decades and all survive him and miss him deeply. Patty always made him happier than he ever thought possible -- their devotion to one another continues to inspire all who know them. He encouraged his children to follow their own distinct paths and carry his sense of love into their own lives. They all miss his smart, funny, warm presence immensely. Eldest son Jonathan graduated from UCLA, has an MA from Antioch University, and works with his wife Lety for Autism Partnership in Los Angeles, California; Melia and Caleb are their smart, talented, joyful children. Heather graduated from the University of Colorado. She and her husband Pete, married 20 years and living in Chatham, are entrepreneurs/home-builders whose children Abby and Sam are smart, giving, and athletic. Amanda graduated from Notre Dame and holds an MFA from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. She is a theater maker and consultant for social profit organizations. These hard-working, loving, smart, friendly people inspire family and friends. God love them. Jack’s varied career began as an Adjunct Professor at Stonehill College, North Easton, Massachusetts (1963-1965). He worked for the Navy Department, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the Naval War College (1966-1973); office director, Federal Energy Administration, Washington, 1974-1976. He was part of the 5-person White House Energy staff (1973) and then became an energy and management analyst for the Office Management Budgets (1974). He later became Special Assistant to the Federal Energy Administrator and FEA International Office Director (1974 -1977). In 1977, Jack moved into the private sector and spent the next 27 years with Union Oil of California, working on government affairs and special CEO projects. He conceived and ran Unocal’s South Coast Recycled Auto Project. SCRAP, winning environmentalist support to buy and junk old cars. It slashed LA air pollution cost-effectively, won EPA regulatory changes and State, local, White House and international awards. Jack was the Chairman of Unocal’s Political Awareness Fund, Los Angeles from 1986 - 2000 and is listed as a noteworthy oil company executive by Marquis Who's Who. After retiring from Unocal, Jack applied his incredible analytical skills and problem-solving approaches to consulting for businesses, think-tanks, government and private clients in the US and overseas. His analyses and reports have helped solve major problems and added to the store of knowledge of public policy. His faith and Catholicism were guiding lights throughout his life and career. A funeral service will be held at the Basilica of St. Mary’s in Alexandria, VA, on Monday October 14 at 12:00 pm. A celebration of Jack’s wonderful life will be held in Chatham during the summer of 2020. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Eldredge Public Library in Chatham, Massachusetts (https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EldredgePublicLibrary/tribute.html). Cards and memories are welcome and appreciated. God loves you, Sir. And so do we.