John "Jack" Bordeaux

John “Jack” Joseph Bordeaux, 82, of Largo, Florida, passed away on January 21, 2025. He was born on January 6, 1943, in Joliet, Illinois, to the late Loretta (Cummings) and Harold Bordeaux. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harold Jr. “Mickey” and Richard “Dick” Bordeaux.

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Susan “Sue” Bordeaux; children, John Bordeaux Jr. and Kelly (Brian) Zaletel; grandchildren, Hannah (Zach) Zaletel and Nicole Petron; his brother, Daniel (Betty) Bordeaux “Danny”; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Jack spent his early childhood in Joliet, Illinois, where he had many fond memories of playing arcade games, baseball, and adventuring around Chicago with his brothers. In his mid-childhood, Jack moved with his family to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he attended St. John’s Catholic School and Bishop Barry High School. He often reminisced about his days as a “beach boy.” Jack later attended Florida State University, where he not only pursued his degree but also perfected his skills in bowling and pinball, even turning it into a profitable hustle.

Upon returning to St. Pete, Jack met his future wife, Sue, who had just moved from Minnesota. They married shortly after and started a family. In 1978, they moved into their forever home, where they raised their children and created countless cherished memories. Jack and Sue enjoyed walking along the beach, spending time with family and friends, and going on road trips.

To help support his family, Jack worked at Derby Lane, where he particularly enjoyed handling the Greyhounds and counting money. He was also a devoted Physical Education teacher at Bauder Elementary and a track coach at Seminole High School, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of many students. Known for his enthusiasm and dedication, Jack instilled in his students the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and hard work. Even after retiring, he continued to organize and officiate track meets around the state, often recruiting “unsuspecting volunteers” to help.

Jack’s faith was a cornerstone of his life. He volunteered at St. Jerome’s Church with Lifeline Ministries and later joined the finance committee, helping to count tithes. He also enjoyed spending time with his brother, Danny, betting on the dogs and attending pretty much any sporting event. His grandchildren were the light of his life, and he was always known as “the fun one.” Jack spent hours building Lincoln Log and Tinker Toy creations, having Mario Kart tournaments, and playing on the beach. In his retirement, he spent many hours on strategically timed walks with his beloved dog Cadie, keeping a keen ear out for the neighborhood gossip.

An avid sports fan, Jack especially loved Notre Dame football. He was known for reciting an impressive number of sports statistics to anyone that would listen (and was surprisingly accurate in his recollection). He enjoyed playing cards…but only if he was “on a roll”. If it was late at night, you could always count on him to be in his robe with a bowl of ice cream in hand. He loved to teach his entire family some of his favorite dances, especially the “electric slide”. One of his favorite pastimes was putting together 999-piece puzzles, where his wife Sue always made sure to help him with the final “key piece”.

Jack’s love for his family and friends was unmatched. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him and will be remembered for his kindness, his spirit, and his unwavering love for those he held dear.

A celebration of Jack’s life will be held on February 8, 2025, at 1:00 PM at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Largo, Florida, with a reception to follow in the Parish Center.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack's memory may be made to Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay, 1706 W Jetton Ave, Tampa, FL 33606 US, https://gotrtampa.org/giving.