John Mack, 83, formerly of Evanston, IL, died Jan. 14, 2007 in Ottumwa, IA after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. He grew up in Kansas City, KS, served in the Navy in WWII as part of the Pacific Fleet and went on to college at the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School. He was an accomplished violinist in the University of Pennsylvania orchestra and never lost his love of music. He entered the insurance industry working for his uncle before owning the Life Associates, Inc. agency which he ran until his retirement. He is best remembered for his work in Scouting and with Troop 12 in Evanston. As a youth he attained the rank of Eagle Scout and became a leader with Troop 11 when he moved to Evanston in 1953. Later he was involved with Troop 12 in Evanston when his sons joined. He served as a leader in Troop 12 from 1969 until the mid 1980’s. During that time he was an Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster, Committee chairman and Committee member. He attended the 1969 National Jamboree in Idaho and the 1971 World Jamboree in Japan as a leader. He was one of the founders of the non-profit Camp & Trails Patches, Inc. which continues to help the local council with upkeep on their camps and high-adventure programs and scholarships to camp for members of Troop 12 through the sale of patches for the local scout camps. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the National Boy Scouts of America in 1972. He also established college scholarships for members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, a national scouting fraternity, and helped to establish a scholarship for students in the Fine Art Department at the University of Connecticut in honor of his son, William. In addition, he established the Quiet Light Scholarship Endowment at The Cove School in Northbrook, IL, a school which specializes in teaching children with learning disabilities. Mr. Mack was also an avid traveler. His trips took him from Japan to Europe, the Netherlands, Africa and the Antarctic. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and later Northminster Presbyterian Church in Evanston. He moved closer to his daughter in Ottumwa, IA in 1992 when he was first affected by Alzheimer’s. While there, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his daughter, Katherine (Mack) Patton; his son, Richard Mack of Evanston, IL; three grandchildren, Samuel and Sarah Mack of Evanston, IL, Ian Patton of Tucson, AZ; his niece, Judy Cook of Nashville, TN; and his former wife, Ruth Elizabeth (Betty) Mack also of Evanston, IL. He was preceded in death by his son, William Mack. Services were private in Chattanooga, TN. Donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Research Center, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN, 55101-9021 or Camp & Trails Patches, Inc., 2331 Hartzell, Evanston, IL 60201.
