John Fairchild Myrick

1930 - 2022

John Fairchild Myrick (Jack) passed away peacefully at his Pacific Palisades home on June 5, 2022. Jack was a 4th generation Californian born in Bakersfield on October 29, 1930. His family moved to Santa Monica in the 1930's where he attended school and graduated from Santa Monica High.
Jack attended Santa Monica College, then University of Hawaii where he graduated with a bachelor's degree. Jack was an accomplished athlete and played football for Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica College and attended University of Hawaii on a football scholarship. In 1957 Jack married his long-time sweetheart Betty Atwill at St. Monica's Church in Santa Monica. They remained happily married for nearly 65 years. Jack and Betty cruised to Hawaii on their honeymoon and returned to live in a tiny bungalow in Honolulu where their oldest daughter was born. After returning to the mainland, they moved to a 1920s two story house at the Palisades Via Bluffs in 1963 where they raised their family of 5 children.
Jack was a dedicated guidance counselor at North High School in Torrance. He took night classes at University of Southern California where he earned his master's degree in Educational Psychology. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle to North High to beat the traffic and loved having his summers off. Jack retired after 30 years with the Torrance High School District. After retirement, he belonged to the American Legion, Post 283 and the Santa Monica Elks Club.
Jack loved sailing and was a member of the Offshore Cruising Club and Windjammer's Yacht Club. He raced with his son and friends in the annual Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race. He was a devoted husband and father who took his large family on many vacations. They spent weekends and summers anchored off Catalina Island and sailing off the coast of California. Jack loved the beach, spending time on is longboard and bodysurfing. He was passionate about motorcycles, riding his street bike on Mulholland and So Cal canyon roads and his dirt bike in the desert with his children where he also raced as a member of the Desert MC and was one of the original members of the Dirt Diggers. Jack also enjoyed running and competed 27 marathons over his lifetime. He remained active throughout his life, walking on the beach and riding his bicycle well into his eighties. He enjoyed spending time with family including family poker parties and BBQs and listening to his expansive collection of classic jazz. Jack is preceded in death by his son Nathaniel Myrick. He is survived by his wife Betty and daughters Alexanne, Leslie, Angela, his daughter and son in law Hilary and Joe Torres, and his grandson, George. Jack will be missed by all those who loved him. There will be no service at his request but raise a toast to Jack at your next opportunity.