JOHN "Jack" VALDES

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JOHN VALDES Obituary

VALDES JOHN H. VALDES "Jack" John H. "Jack" Valdes, a long-time resident of the Washington area, passed peacefully on January 25, 2016 in Pinehurst, NC. Jack was born on November 13, 1948 in Decatur, Alabama to Donald and Johnnie Marie Valdes. His father's career at Denison University brought the family to Granville, Ohio, where he enjoyed a happy childhood. He went east for college and graduated from Brown University and Western New England Law School. After graduating from law school, his job as assistant Legal Counsel to the propane industry led him to Washington, D.C., where he lived for 35 years. He was an avid sailor and athlete and enjoyed many years sailing on the Chesapeake Bay in his beloved sailboat, playing tennis and golf, and traveling around the world. His love of life was surpassed only by his uncommonly decent and gentle nature and desire to help others. He entered the commercial real estate industry in the early 1980s where he worked for Barnes, Morris, Pardoe, and Foster and The Penrose Group and was known for his intelligent and steady commitment to the business and his integrity with clients. He mentored many new brokers whom he took under his wing. Jack's primary focus was representing clients in land sales in the Dulles corridor which in the "80's consisted primarily of farms and cedar fields. Among his many career achievements was his instrumental role in development of the Loudoun County Parkway extension to Route 7 and in 2003, bringing Wegman's first grocery store to the Washington market in Sterling, VA. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joanne; his mother Johnnie Marie of Granville, Ohio; three siblings, Thomas (Felicia) of Athens, GA; Andrea (John) Hall of Nashville, TN; and Salena (Kevin) Barrett of Grasonville, MD; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Mirr (Dennis) of Herndon, VA and Barbara Wolff of Yorktown Heights, NY. Jack was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer in 2010 and was in a patient study that used targeted therapy to treat the disease pioneered at MD Anderson in Houston, TX, where he traveled throughout the course of his disease. His treatment provided a bank of knowledge that helped many other patients in the ensuing years. Jack was committed to bringing research and treatment to patients in the Washington, DC area and connected with the Inova Dwight and Martha Schar Cancer Institute in Falls Church, VA, which is providing cutting edge research and support to cancer patients. Jack's cancer story was featured in a WUSA9 TV special. Services private. Donations may be made in his name to Inova Schar Cancer Institute, 8110 Gatehouse Road Suite 200 East, Falls Church VA 22042 or online https://foundation.inova.org/donate-now. Online condolences may be left at www.bolesfuneralhome.com Boles Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.in Pinehurst will be assisting the family.Boles Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.in Pinehurst will be assisting the family.

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Published by The Washington Post on Dec. 14, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for JOHN VALDES

8 Entries

Mark Leader

December 31, 2022

Joanne:

I just wanted to reach out and tell you that I think of Jack often. Although I knew him primarily through work, we became pretty close. I continue to miss him and the way he carried himself.

I hope you are doing well and the best in the new year!

Mark Leader

John Hamm

December 9, 2022

John Hamm

December 9, 2022

John Hamm

December 9, 2022

John Hamm

December 9, 2022

I first met Jack and Joanne (J & J) in 1991, on a week-long, late-summer, Chesapeake Bay sailing adventure with three boats. Our neighbors, Ken & Lynn Page had the advantage of having met J & J earlier and had planned our travels from Annapolis to several way-points in the Southern Bay.
J & J berthed their boar farther down the Bay, thus we planned to all raft-up mid-way for all boats. It was a windy evening when we two Annapolis boats arrived at our destination and rafted-up together. We no sooner had begun to prep for a cocktail hour gathering, when J & J sailed into view, dropped their sails on "Breezing-Up", and began to motor into the wind toward our raft. The boat had a small engine and moved very slowly toward us, struggling to make headway, and join my Lynn and me for our introduction to J & J. As they came broad-side, I called out my first words to Jack, that they both looked like they could really use a Mount Gay and Tonic. Jack laughed, that sweet chuckle he had, and our 25-year friendship had begun. Little did I know at that moment that Jack and I would enjoy many sailing adventures and MG&T's over the next quarter century.
A few years later, I presented to J & J the opportunity to join us on a motor yacht from Annapolis to Down East Maine, aboard Seastar, my business partner's 48' Down East Cutter. We took that trip on four occasions, 1993-96.

In 1995, during a dinner party at J & J's home on Randall Lane in Bethesda, we were introduced to the for-sale house across the street, that shortly after became our new home. It was a chapter out of "The Honeymooners", with the Hamm's and Valdes's moving back and forth for all sorts of wonderful social occasions. Most unfortunately, the sweetness of that time in 1996 was dampened when my Lynn was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer, the took her from us in June of 2000. During the time when we were fighting hard for her survival, J & J were right there, supporting us all the way.
Remembering "Y2K" on New Years 2000, J & J had a party, and as the Ball was dropping in Times Square, Jack and I slipped into his garage to douse the power at the precise second of Y2K. We had a great laugh listening to the screaming guests, as we reenergized the house. What a prank that was.
I could go on with many pages of stories involving Jack, but will end with this.
Jack Valdes, my dear best-friend, was taken from us too soon, but he left lasting memories, and for me, gratitude for having had such a stellar buddy in my life.
I shall miss Jack all of my remaining days.

Rick collins

August 20, 2020

I went to school with Jack in Granville. He was the most friendly and sincere person I've ever met. We played on the offensive and defensive line together my junior year. We spoke often and what I remember most are my encounters in junior high,in high school,playing sports and lunch time in downtown Granville by the water fountain near Taylor's Drugs. He made me as well as others a better person with his thoughts. My thanks for his presence. Dick Collins

Mark Leader

December 20, 2016

I had the privilege of meeting Jack in the mid 80's through the Washington, DC commercial real estate business. I was a real estate developer and Jack was a broker. On several occasions, he came in to see me to present land deals for sale. I remember thinking what a smart, nice guy he was so why was he in the real estate business!

We never ended up doing a deal back then, but our paths would cross again in the early 90's after the infamous savings and loan crash of the late 80's. That crash cost me my job and after I picked up the pieces, I ended up going to work for the same brokerage company that Jack was working for when we first met. Jack was still there, we
ended up sitting in adjoining offices, and, since we both specialized in industrial real estate, we often teamed up.

The early 90s's were tough times in the commercial real estate business and Jack and I both struggled, but me in particular. Jack really helped me back then when I was at the low point in my career and I did not know very much about the brokerage side of the business. For a business known for its cutthroat nature, Jack was a class act, never too high, never too low, a quiet self-confidence, and the kind of guy you wanted to be around, have a drink with and enjoy his company. Suffice it to say though, at least while I was there, Jack and I never set the brokerage business on fire.

Jack always had higher aspirations in real estate, so when he eventually moved on from the brokerage company, I was happy for him, yet hoping my turn was next to get back to what I really enjoyed doing, the development business. I eventually resumed my career and the most we ever saw each other again were times on the golf course where no matter how he was playing, Jack was in story telling mode while I was cursing my poor play!

There are not many Jack Valdes you meet in your life. During my 40 year career in real estate, he was the best man I ever met in the business. I feel fortunate to have worked with him. Even in the throes of cancer, Jack never changed. A man of grace, the most that he ever complained to me regarding his diagnosis were the remote odds
of this type of cancer.

Looking back now, I realize that Jack was not the type of person who was defined by work. That helped him keep life in perspective. He was smart enough to do anything he wanted with a career, yet smart enough to know the difference between work and living your life. Jack was a sailor, golfer, world traveler, husband, and friend to many and much more.

We all go through life with some level of awareness about our own mortality and the need to live life to the fullest. Is it just irony that a guy like Jack seemed to have had such an acute awareness of this, yet was taken from us so early or did he just have the gift to know better and live life while he was here?

I can hear Jack chuckling now.

Dennis Mirr

December 15, 2016

Jack, I am going to leave you with an Irish Sailor's Blessing ...

"May the seas lie smooth before you.
May a gentle breeze forever fill your sails.
May sunshine warm your face.
May kindness warm your soul.
And until we meet again, may God bless you and you safe."

And finally, "May your jib never luff."

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