John Thomas "Jack" Loretan

John Thomas (Jack) Loretan, born May 31,1932 to John and Elsie Loretan, passed on to a heavenly golf course on Tuesday evening, August 20, 2024. Jack was married for 68 years to Eleanor Mary Loretan, who predeceased him. For Eleanor, the love of his life, he spent a summer laboring on a road crew in order to buy her engagement ring. Father to four children - Christine Joan (Leentjes), Suzanne Marie, Mark Michael and John Ronald (who predeceased him), he is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Gulbransen, four grandchildren – Michelle and Jonathan Loretan, Eli and Aaron Leentjes, and one great grandchild - Addison Loretan
Jack was raised in Queens, New York and Northport, on Long Island. His high school years were spent at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, NY (near Buffalo), where he excelled academically and on the basketball court. His undergraduate degree was from St. John's University in Queens, where he counted Mario Cuomo amongst his friends. After he began his professional career, he earned an MBA at night from City College.
Jack was a proud 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps early in his adult life, at Quantico, VA, Tyndall AFB, FL and Cherry Point, NC. That pride continued his entire life, with the Marine flag displayed prominently at their Apopka, Florida home.
His long career with Traveler's Insurance Company spanned four decades in the Personnel and Administration Department at several office locations in the New York City Metropolitan area, Washington, D.C., Springfield, Massachusetts, Detroit and Southfield, Michigan. His later working years were with The Copeland Company in Morris Plains, New Jersey. While known as a firm father at home, his son, who once worked in the same building as Jack, was astonished to hear him referred to by colleagues as "Smilin' Jack". His daughter once encountered someone in a social setting who recognized the last name and volunteered "Your Dad's a riot!"
A long and golf-filled retirement was spent at Errol Estate in Apopka, Florida, with a wondrous view of sunsets, overlooking the course and lake. He and Eleanor spent many an evening socializing at the Clubhouse with their huge circle of friends, impressing all with their singing and dancing, and where all the servers knew his standing order for his namesake – Jack Daniels. St. Patrick's Catholic Church in nearby Mt. Dora was another beacon of their life.
While Jack's first professional baseball experience was watching the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbet's Field, he was a life-long superfan of the Yankees, grateful to them for never abandoning New York City. Jack engaged in some new skills during his retirement – calligraphy, an attempt to learn Spanish and an endless battle with birdfeeder-raiding squirrels.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Loaves and Fishes (https://loavesandfishesapopka.com/financial-giving/)
A Memorial Mass will be held at 9 AM on Monday, Sept 30, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 6803 Old Hwy 441, Mount Dora, Florida, 32757.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared on the tribute wall.