Jack Koefoot

Jack Koefoot, lifelong Boy Scout leader and world traveler, dies at 91. Jack Koefoot, an Eagle Scout and 78-year veteran of the Boy Scouts of America as well as an amateur historian who visited over 150 countries in his lifetime, died May 16 at a senior care center in Fairfax, Virginia. He was 91. The cause was complications from a series of strokes, said his son, Eric Koefoot. Mr. Koefoot joined the Boy Scouts in 1936 at the age of 13. He quickly progressed through the ranks, earning Scouting's highest honor, Eagle Scout, in 1939. While Scouting does not keep centralized records, it is widely believed that Mr. Koefoot was one of the longest continuously-serving Eagle Scouts in the history of the Boys Scouts of America. Boy Scouts was the centerpiece of Mr. Koefoot's life. He earned the Eagle badge, the highest honor of Scouting, in 1938. Completing a total of 70 merit badges, his Eagle badge was decorated with 3 gold palm leaves. He was a leader of Troop 804 out of Wellington Church in the early 1950's, and shortly thereafter formed Explorer Post 2804. The Post operated for almost 20 years, and it was renowned for the places it went - Philmont, Region 7 Canoe Base, Alaska, Mexico, and even Europe. His scouting career took him across the world, forging lifelong friendships with scouts in every country he visited. He was honored with Scouting's prestigious Silver Beaver Award in 1963, and in 2011 at the age of 88, Mr. Koefoot was recognized by the Boy Scouts with its 75-year veteran award, a distinction that has been bestowed on only a small handful of Scouters in the entire history of the organization. In addition to his love of Scouting, Mr. Koefoot was an avid traveler and loved Chinese food whenever and wherever he could find it. As an amateur historian and armchair archaeologist, he visited over 150 countries in his lifetime as well as virtually every noted archeological site around the globe. He was often heard quoting Emerson, "We are always getting ready to live but never living" before departing on his trips. Jack Anthony Koefoot was born on July 15, 1923, the only child of Anthony L. Koefoot, a banker, and Adele R. Koefoot. Raised in the depression, he was quick to learn the value of thriftiness and the value of a dollar - traits that served him well his entire life, allowing him to travel the world for 2-4 weeks almost every year of his adult life. Mr. Koefoot graduated from Lakeview High School in 1941. He was admitted to Northwestern University's School of Engineering in Evanston Illinois, having been assigned an educational deferral from serving in the military in World War II. Nonetheless, he worked during the war after school and on weekends at a war supplies manufacturing plant on the south side of Chicago, traveling the length of Chicago on the elevated train seven days a week. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University in 1946. He began working as an engineer at the DuPont Company after graduation and began a lifetime of travel after the war ended. Visiting Spain after World War II, he narrowly escaped a grenade attack by separatists that occurred moments after he left a building. Mr. Koefoot earned an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1953 and was hired by Sears, Roebuck and Company as a quality control engineer, visiting manufacturing plants across North America and helping suppliers improve manufacturing processes. He was based in the West Side Sears offices until the construction of the Sears Tower, where he was among the first workers in what was then the tallest building in the world. Mr. Koefoot met his future wife, Elizabeth, before the start of a Boy Scout meeting at Wellington Church, where she was serving as an associate pastor. They were married two years later, in 1960, with a company of Explorer Scouts serving as ushers at the wedding. His marriage to Elizabeth Koefoot ended in her untimely passing at age 42 from breast cancer. Survivors include two sons, Eric Koefoot of Oakton, Virginia, and Paul Koefoot of Lincoln, Nebraska and three grandchildren. A private memorial service was held on the lake at Owasippe Scout Reservation near Whitehall, Michigan. Gifts may be made in his memory to the Boys Scouts of America.