John Shearer Sargent

John Shearer Sargent ("Jack"), died on October 30, 2021, age 91.

Jack was born in Peterborough, Ontario, and spent his childhood on the family dairy farm in Westwood. After earning a B.S. at the University of Toronto (now Guelph) in 1952, Jack joined the RCAF as a pilot officer and married Jeanne in 1955. In 1964 Jack moved his young family to Chicago to accept a job at United Airlines, where he worked until he retired as captain in 1990.

Jack's life was devoted to faith, family, and golf. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Venice, where he served as head usher for years and is remembered for his special warmth when greeting congregants. At the Plantation Golf & Country Club, he had three or more standing games a week for 20 years, won his share of trophies, whittled his handicap to 9, and was a founding member of the Friendlies. He delighted in his family, took great pride in his grandsons, and attended as many family weddings, graduations, major anniversaries, and reunions as he could until a stroke in 2019. He and Jeanne traveled the world and made friends wherever they went, but he never forgot the old ones: Jack attended every reunion of his college class for 65 years.

He is survived by Jeanne, his wife of 66 years; daughter Debra of North Bethesda, Md.; son David of Aurora, Ill., and his wife Leslie; grandsons Jack and Cooper; and sister Jean Robertson of Bobcaygeon, Ontario. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lavina Sargent; his son, Michael Duff Sargent; and a sister, Margaret Lacey.

A memorial service is planned for late February. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota.