Jack HOUK

HOUK, Jack Joseph 89, passed away on September 16, 2022. Born in Clio, Michigan, Jack graduated from Bowling Green State University, earning his degree in Political Science. Jack met and married the love of his life, Carolyn Johnson, at BGSU. Upon graduation, he and Carolyn moved to San Diego where he was stationed during his four years of active service in the Navy as a Communications Officer who travelled extensively throughout the Far East. The couple then returned to Michigan where Jack began his lengthy career in public government, working in the personnel departments of the Cities of Flint and Saginaw while earning a Master's degree in Public Administration at the University of Michigan and serving in the Naval Reserve. In 1969, Jack and his family relocated to Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where Jack accepted a position as the Assistant Director, and later Director, of Personnel for the Milwaukee Public School system. After twelve wonderful years of living in Wisconsin and making the best of friends, Jack accepted a position as the Personnel Director of Pinellas County and moved to Dunedin, Florida. Jack continued to serve as the County's Personnel Director for seventeen years, until such time as he retired. Always the life of the party, Jack was a gregarious guy, a well-rounded athlete, musician and well-read intellectual. He was generous to a multitude of charities and individuals and maintained many lifelong friends. His true passions were playing tennis, travelling around the World, whitewater rafting, and rooting for the Michigan Wolverines. He is predeceased by his wife, Carolyn, of sixty-one years; daughter, Laura Pesci; and brother, Harold Houk; survived by his son, Jeff (Gretchen); daughter, Janie Houk (Tom Quarles); son-in-law, Gerald Pesci; four grandchildren, Annah Houk, Alycia Betz (Jeff), Alex Pesci (Nicole), and Jeffrey Pesci; five great grandchildren; and brother, Peter Houk (Rose) and his family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Humane Society of Pinellas County.