John William King, Jr Death
John passed away on March 24, 2012 at the age of 83.
When did John William King, Jr die?
March 24, 2012How old was John William King, Jr when died?
83
John William King, Jr Birthday and Date of Death
John William King, Jr was born on July 29, 1928 and died on March 24, 2012. John was 83 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: July 29, 1928
Date of Death: March 24, 2012
Age at Death: 83
John William King, Jr - Biography
John William King, Jr., fondly known as Jack, died on March 24, 2012, with his family and close friends by his side. He is survived by his wife Carole, his children Karin (Glen Cox) and William (Sheryl), and his brother Robert (Bonnie). Those close to him knew him as a crusty barnacle with a heart as big as a basketball.
His infectious, hearty laugh and bright blue eyes would warm up a room as he re-told skits of his favorite comedian Mel Brooks or shared the many adventures he enjoyed though out his life. He had a unique flair with words; his favorite were “phooey” and “humbug.” He loved solving crossword puzzles from the Wall Street Journal. He left a legacy as a masterful storyteller, and a long and illustrious career as a world-renowned blue-water sailboat racer, with six boats all named Merrythought.
Jack was born in Omaha, NE on July 29, 1928, to Gertrude Norby and John William King, Sr. He grew up in St Louis, MO, where he attended Normandy High School, learned to sail on the Mississippi, and became an Eagle Scout. Stories of these times include apprenticing as a stockyard boy at Swift and Co, where his father worked as an accountant, and as a counselor at Ralston Purina’s Camp Miniwanca, where he was inspired by William H. Danforth, author of the classic I Dare You. After graduation he wanted to join the Marines with his friends, but his father drove him to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, just in time for football practice. At Coe, he began his love of literature and writing and later transferred to University of Missouri where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.
After college he joined the Air Force and married his college sweetheart, Marilyn Kibbe. As a pilot in the Air Force, he claimed to have flown upside down under the Golden Gate Bridge and shared an exciting story of following a UFO to the Mexican border. During his service in Korea, he served on the prisoner exchange and as Chief Information Officer to several top military personnel, and flew F-86’s - the premier fighter jet of its time. He later joked, “The Navy turned me down because of my eardrum; man did I fool them!” The excitement of flying motivated Jack to consider a career with the Air Force until his children were born: the life of a jet pilot was not conducive to longevity. “There are old pilots and bold pilots, but very few old, bold pilots,” he’d laugh. So he returned to civilian life as a TWA pilot, then joined a small advertising agency that eventually steered him to the prestigious firm of Darcy Advertising. During his years at Darcy, he continued his flying career in small single-prop planes and began training as a glider pilot.
In addition to the AYC, Jack was a Board member of the United States Sailing Association during the 1980’s, member of the New York Yacht Club and a founding contributor to the purchase of its Harbor Court home in 1987, Commodore of the Storm Trysail Club in 1990 and 1991, Overseas Rear Commodore of London’s Royal Ocean Racing Club 1992-94, the Cruising Club of America and the Carolina Yacht Club. He also served on the Fales Committee at the U.S. Naval Academy and later on their Foundation. He is a founding member of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. Jack said goodbye to ocean racing in 1994, and donated the last Merrythought to the Orange Coast College in California. The J-105, which took its place as he began racing in Charleston Harbor, was donated to the Naval Academy Sailing Program.
Jack’s wife Marilyn passed away in 1988. He married Carole Forsythe in 1993. They started the Merrythought Foundation, which together with Baltimore’s Living Classroom Foundation and the Midshipmen in Action program of the Naval Academy, provided several years of on the water educational programs for Annapolis inner city youth. The Foundation was dissolved in 2008.
Retirement in 1994 did not halt Jack’s adventuresome spirit. He sailed with ESPN producer Gary Jobson to within 10 degrees of the North Pole, bought and flew a glider plane, went hot air ballooning in the Alps, sailed on a clipper ship across the Atlantic, and cruised the Southern Caribbean. He also travelled extensively with his family, including especially Africa, Patagonia, Greenland, and Ireland. Ireland was special. Thanks to genealogical research by his son Bill, he connected with his family roots counting backwards from 1603.
