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Jack RUSH Obituary
1918 - 2012
Jack passed away peacefully on Friday, March 30, 2012, predeceased by his beloved wife Rohan in 1997, his brothers Ed and Bert, and his sisters Vi and Maude. He will be sorely missed by his son Eric, daughter Anne (Wayne), grandchildren Christie and Jeff, nieces, nephews, including many friends. Jack was born in Liverpool, England, on July 30,1918, emigrating to Vancouver when he was six. Jack attended Kitsilano High School in Vancouver, and played soccer as well as cricket up until his late 40's. Jack attended UBC, where he obtained a B.A. in Languages (French, German, and Latin). In 1940, Jack joined the Dept. of Transport and spent the war years teaching Meteorology at Penfield Ridge, NB. At the end of the war, he returned to UBC and obtained an M.A., and where he met Rohan. He attended the University of Paris in 1947/8, and began full time teaching in 1949, the same year he married Rohan. In 1951, he was appointed Head of the Language Dept. at Lord Byng, and he and Rohan started their family. Jack obtained an M.Ed. in 1965, and in 1969 moved up into administration settling in 1974 at Vancouver Technical School, until he retired. In 1985, Jack developed Alzheimer's disease, and as his condition slowly progressed, Jack was able to stay at home with Eric and homecare. In his spare time, besides coaching soccer and cricket in high school, Jack loved to work in his garden, and going to his summer house on Saturna Is. Jack was an accomplished self-taught musician: he played the piano by ear, later tackling the organ. He was a member of the parish of St. Philip's Anglican Church, holding many volunteer jobs, and he sang in the choir for 50 years. Jack enjoyed playing cribbage, Scrabble, and doing crosswords, even late in his life. The family gives special thanks to his homecare ladies, especially Myrna Ann and Lorna, who helped make Jack's final years comfortable. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jack's name to either the Diabetes Assoc., the Heart & Stroke Foundation, or the Alzheimer's Society. A celebration of Jack's life will be held on Sat. April 14th, 11 A.M., at St. Philip's Anglican Church, 27t1 and Dunbar.
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13 Entries
Ross Clark
January 21, 2019
I just found this page after opening an old book that was given to me as a prize, and signed by Jack Rush. He taught me French (1957-60), very well. Also tried to teach me cricket, with much less success. Thank you for this remembrance of one of the most memorable teachers of my high school days.
Diane (de Bruyn) Andersson
March 24, 2018
I was looking for Jack for a friend, Leonard Clipstone, who did a teaching exchange with Jack in 1963/64. I also had Jack as my French teacher in 1964/65. I remember him well. He always made himself a cup of tea at the beginning of class, and offered a cup to one or two students. He was fun, and a good teacher.
April 11, 2012
Anne and Eric,
My sister just told me tonight about your father's passing. My memories of him are too numerous to list here, but among them - he was my grade 11 and 12 Latin teacher at Byng - I remember he caught me out one time when my father had done my Caesar translation because I had an overload of homework that night!
I scored for the cricket teams for several years at Byng- your dad taught me the finer points of scoring and I still enjoy cricket today. He was so enthusiastic about cricket and I definitely caught the bug (I play on a women`s team).
My mother sang in the choir with him many years at St. Philip`s so it would always be great to see his friendly smile and reminisce with him when I visited St. Philip's.
He and Miss Lawrence ran the Classics Club, of which I was an enthusiastic member - we had such interesting meetings - many of them in your home, then wrapped up the year with a toga party!
His enthusiasm for everything was infectious, and he was such a natural teacher - Latin was always my favourite class.
My sincere condolences to your family on the loss of a great man.
Louise Fairley
Donald Grayston
April 9, 2012
Dear members of Jack's family, I want to record my gratitude here for a time when I did Very Badly on my French exam at Christmas. He invited me to come to school early for a few weeks to help me bring myself forward in my study of French. Above the call of duty, definitely.
I'm also grateful for what I learned in his Latin classes--not least, how to understand English!
His memory is a blessing to us.
Don Grayston
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Vivien Warr
April 8, 2012
Dear Anne
I met you while visiting your father with Janet Brown and when I told you that he had been my German teacher at Lord Byng you told him and he immediately greeted me in German. Thank goodness I remembered the correct response..a credit to his teaching.
I feel honoured to have known him, and I remember the many times he walked down the aisle of St. Philip's as a member of the choir.
My sympathy to you and Eric in the loss of your father
Vivien Warr
Judith Moore
April 8, 2012
How fortunate we were. We took him for granted. He was always there. Big smile always ready to answer a question or handle a problem... . always at the forefront of every game of soccer. Our reunions were made more memorable by his presence. Class of 1959. Lord Byng.
Helen (Grayston) Williams
April 7, 2012
Dear Eric & Anne,
The end of an era! Your father was my Latin teacher at Lord Byng and my Junior High Sunday School teacher at St. Philip's. I sang in the church choir with him, babysat for you one time while your parents were playing cards at my parents' home, and had tutoring lessons in your back garden one summer when I missed a great amount of school after having surgery.
After living out of the country for forty years, I returned in 2000 and met up with your father at St. Philip's and at a choir festival. In the church where the choir festival was held, there was a Latin inscription over the altar. I translated it but knew I had the verb tense wrong. I saw Mr. Rush walk in and before the programme started went over to ask for his help. He said it thrilled him that some of his students remembered the Latin that he had taught them!
I returned to Lord Byng for our twentieth class reunion. On the Friday night, the teachers and administration from our day joined us in the Lord Byng cafeteria for a wine and cheese party. Your father was called up to the dias and his French 10 class gathered in front of him and recited the recitation he had taught them in grade nine. He wept with joy! We celebrated our fiftieth class reunion last fall, and the recitation was repeated and your father hailed with a toast.
He died on my birthday. I'll never forget him. My California born children could never understand that people like your father were my teacher at school and church, a fellow chorister and friend, all wrapped up in one!
In thanksgiving for a life well lived!
Pax,
Gina Emerslund
April 7, 2012
Condolences to the family...unlike some of the others... :-) .... I wasn't in his office....but have fond rememberences all the same... he always had a friendly hello...& a big smile...If my brother Dave was alive, I am sure he would agree.
He definitely enhanced the wonderful atmosphere around Tech during my years...1974-79....
Regards from our family .....
Gina Emerslund (nee Campeotto)
Michael MacNeil
April 7, 2012
Mr Rush, who tried to talk some sense into me in grade 9 at Van Teck in 1975. You were vary fair,and you were right. I was just not listening. My mistake.I had to find my own path, Thank You for caring. Always Respected,God Speed.
Lorie Smitten-Graff
April 7, 2012
I remember Mr. Rush well. He was one of my favorite teachers at Lord Byng High School where I was in his Latin class in 1953 & 1954. At the end of the school year he hosted a toga party for all his Latin students at his home.
A wonderful teacher.
Joanie Down (Livingstone)
April 7, 2012
My deepest condolences to the family. I was a student at Van Tech from 1978 - 1982. I remember Mr. Rush as our Vice Principal and my Latin Teacher. A very interesting man indeed. I ran into him at a Whitecaps game a few years ago and recognized him immediately. He hadn't changed in over 25 years. May he rest in peace.
Adel Will
April 7, 2012
You will be sadly missed by many, but most of all, all the children from Vancouver Technical who had the opportunity to sit in your office who were in trouble, and with your kind face you handed them candy and made everything ok. you were the most remembered Vice principle ever <3<3<3 all my condolences to the family for your loss of a wonderful man
Geordie Moski
April 7, 2012
To Eric and Anne,
My deepest condolences on your loss. Such a different man than what i saw. Godspeed to your Father.
Geordie Moski
Van Tech 83
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