Jack Lee Bohan

Jack was born on a farm near Wallingford, Iowa on October 22, 1931 to Clarence ‘Doc’ Bohan and Helen Janette Bohan (Strid) of Irish and Swedish descent. His youth was spent in Bricelyn, Minnesota where his father was a large animal vet, and mother a beautician, and then in nearby Mankato. He relished memories of his boyhood spent around the wood stove in the blacksmith’s shop, his chemistry lab in the home basement, and his often mischievous adventures with his buddies.

He had a life of adventure: Ice camping, fishing and exploring around the many lakes and rivers of Minnesota; hitchhiking to Idaho to serve for a summer with the US Forest Service; and a harrowing and thwarted search for land to homestead to build a log cabin in the Northwoods. Return from this last adventure led to recruitment into the US Navy, assigned to a battleship for the Korean War. He was awarded an ROTC scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a metallurgic engineering degree, followed by the successful pursuit of a law degree at George Washington University, while also working at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He settled down to build his family, marrying Katherine Lowrie in Troy, NY in 1954, followed by the birth of Heidi, Sherri, Robert and Suzanne. He continued his adventures, moving the family West in 1961, settling in San Jose. In 1962, he was hired by United Technologies (UTC) as Division Counsel, and passed the California Bar Exam in 1964. He excelled at UTC, retiring with widespread respect in 1994 as a Vice President. He also served 16 years as a Santa Clara County Planning Commissioner, earning recognition from the County Board of Supervisors for his exemplary service.

Many family weekends were spent camping throughout California. He settled into the foothills of east San Jose, on 50 acres with sweeping views where he built his dream home, no longer a log cabin but a mansion, with engineering marvels including a third-floor oval dining room with a 360-degree view, and steel girder construction on a par with skyscrapers. His ally in this 30-year project was John Padilla, now one of the family, along with Aren Newkirk (Sherri) who spent several years helping to construct the home, and with significant contributions from son Robert and his son Cameron. The family has wonderful memories of birthdays, 4th of July’s, turkey and boar hunting, dodging rattlesnakes, herding cattle, hikes in the foothills, and rides on the manlift during visits to The Land.

He was brilliant to the end, unwavering as a father and friend. Age and lung disease slowed him down physically, he spent every day possible at his desk in his constant quest for knowledge, surrounded by books, writings, friends and family. Suzanne and husband Glenn gave him a final home in Carmel Valley near the ocean, under the continued care of John to whom we are forever grateful.

He will be greatly missed by his friends and family, whom he cherished. He is survived by his four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

A Visitation and Celebration of Life will be held at Bayside Community Mortuary, located at 1610 Noche Buena Street, Seaside, CA 93955, United States, on November 20, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Food and drink will be served.

The Funeral Service will follow at the same venue, Bayside Community Mortuary, on November 20, 2025, starting at 3:00 pm.

The Committal Service will take place at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery, located at 2900 Parker Flats Cut Off Rd, Seaside, CA 93955, United States, on November 21, 2025, at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department at svvfd.org, an organization our father long supported.