Jack Marion Thornell

THORNELL Jack Marion Thornell Jack Marion Thornell, Retired Corporate Executive, dies at 74. Jack Thornell was a man of grace, a kind and caring man. He made friends throughout his life; and when Jack made friends, they stayed friends. He brought out the best in others. In Jack's presence, others wanted to be as good as they could be. And where Jack went, joy followed. Jack was proud of his roots and considered himself "just a simple boy" from Southeast Texas. As a young boy, Jack accepted Christ as his Savior and truly enjoyed his time and association with a new church he had been attending in California. Jack married the love of his life, Judy, in 1977; and for almost thirty-two years they shared a special life together. He served in the USAF from 1953 to 1957 as an electronic countermeasures/radio operator/gunner on a Strategic Air Command B-36 Combat Crew. He graduated from Lamar University in Port Neches Texas and began his professional career in the tele-communications industry at Collins Radio. In 1970, he accepted a Senior Staff position in the White House, Office of Telecommunications Policy, Executive Office of the President. In 1977, Jack began working for Ford Aerospace (later to become a division of Loral, then a division of Lockheed Martin) in Palo Alto, Ca. In 1988 he moved to Colorado Springs, CO to take command of a Loral division there. Jack retired in 1997 as President of Lockheed Martin Corp., Command and Control Systems Division. He viewed his years in the military and the defense industry as important opportunities to serve, defend, and protect his country. Jack believed in supporting his community and serving the men and women in military. He did so by actively participating in various organizations such as Pikes Peak Region USO where he served 3 years as Chairman, University of Colorado Business Advisory Council and was appointed Chairman of the Colorado Executives for Opportunity by Governor Roy Romer. After his retirement, Jack made his home in Las Vegas, Nevada where he enjoyed almost daily rounds of golf. Jack was born July 19, 1934 in Port Neches, Texas and died of colon cancer September 13, 2008 in Los Altos, California where he had been receiving medical treatment. Jack is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his children Steve, Marion, and Robyn; his step-children Scott and Amy; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His father, mother and sister preceded him in death. Jack requested that no funeral be held; he wanted people to celebrate his life. He asked that those wishing to honor his memory donate to one of his favorite organizations: The First Tee, Pathways Hospice of Sunnyvale California or UCSF Cancer Research Institute.