Jack Jordan

Hamilton, Jack Jordan was a man that knew no stranger. He loved people - all people. A perfect day for Jack would include meeting someone new, engaging with them in conversation and finding out about their life’s story while sharing a few stories of his own. And yes, that man sure could tell a story. He loved to captivate the attention of his grandkids with epic tales of heroic danger and intrigue. Now, if Jack were here to tell the tale of his life, you’d be sure to hear a different story. He would no doubt start with a high-pitched voice saying that he was born a poor little boy from the south with holes in his shoes and a penny for your thoughts. He was, in truth, born in Florida and raised between Florida, Pennsylvania and California. An only child born to Hamilton and Marjorie Jordan, Jack was blessed to be surrounded and enveloped by many cousins who filled his life with joy. Jack was brainwashed by his mother to believe that he was an angel given to earth as a gift from God. When he had children of his own, he came to confess that he never really was the angel his parents had dreamed him to be, but what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.

Though Jack was no angel, he did have a heart of gold. Jack had a loyalty that went deep, so deep that he left his career with Mobile Oil back in 1965 because of the racism and injustice he saw from the corporate level. He cared about the men that worked under him and would do anything to protect his employees. From his buddies that fought alongside him in the Korean War to the neighbors he lived next door to, everyone who knew Jack, felt as if they were the only person in the world when his gaze would fall upon them. He gave all of his attention, faithfully, to the person standing in front of him. It’s no wonder his children were raised with such unshakable self-esteem. They knew they were loved.

After fighting in the Korean War, Jack rushed back to California to marry the love of his life, Joan Mann. This marriage led to four beautiful children, Janet, Jeff, Julie and Jim, two college degrees and the restaurant business. Opening up the famed Pizza Palace, the prime hangout for all the local high school students, Jack caught the restaurant bug. He opened up a second Pizza Palace, and after, acquired The Sagebrush Cantina where he employed his entire family including his mother-in-law, Hilda, his aunt, Iris and his cousin, Harry, who often stepped in as bouncer when things got rowdy. When the business got busier and rowdier than even Harry could contain, Jack branched out and worked as a “Land Man” in the oil industry. A true entrepreneur, Jack was always intrigued by a new idea. He also worked as a property appraiser, a real estate agent, started a produce company and worked in development for the Legoland Amusement Park as well as in the fashion industry, overseeing the construction and opening of new stores for both Rampage and Forever 21. Jack was truly a “Jack of all trades,” always bored and never bored, he was fascinated by life and loved to learn.

A teacher at heart, Jack always made himself available to assist, to give a word of advice or to help find the right path for so many that loved him like a father. He and Joan raised four strong-willed, independent, successful influencers who could often be seen as “too many cooks in the kitchen.” Much to his extreme delight, these leaders gave him a son-in-law, Robb; daughter-in-law, Jennifer; and five beautiful grandkids, Josh, Joelle, Garrett, Rachel and Katie, who were the lights of his life although no one could compete for the love and affection he had for his lovely wife of almost 61 years, Joan. Some of his last words, through strained speech were, “look at her, look how pretty she is.”

His family is big and extends far beyond biological boundaries. We are all now experiencing a great loss. We cannot know what our life will be without him but we look forward to the day that we will all be together again.

Eulogy by: Joan, Janet, Jeff and Joelle