He was born in Trenton, New Jersey on October 28, 1926. After attending Trenton Catholic High School he entered the Naval V- 12 Program and graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in 1948. He received an MBA from the Wharton School of Business in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1956.
Jack married Loretta M. Sullivan in 1951 and they had eight children, living in Ohio and Virginia where he worked for General Electric. Following Loretta’s death in 1963, Jack moved the family to Stamford, Connecticut where he pursued a successful career as a marketing executive.
In 1968, Jack married Susan Darcy Witham, and her two daughters were embraced into the family.
Spending 44 wonderful years together they raised their family in Stamford. Retirement came in 2004 when they moved to Topsham, Maine. World-wide travels and visits to all 50 states kept them curious and engaged. Sue passed away 2012.
Jack was also predeceased by his parents John and Christina Murphy, and his sons John J. III and James Duffy. He is survived by his daughters Eileen (Edward) Sullivan, Kathleen (Frank) Berger, Mary(John) Schmidtke, Christina (John) Brannock, Elizabeth Shaughnessy, Margaret (Tom) Carley, Claire Murphy, Darcy Witham, and Stephanie (Scott) Fisher.
He is also survived by two sisters Dorothy Sost and Peggy (James) McDade, and many loving nieces and nephews.
He leaves nineteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren who call him PopPop. His family lives in all parts of the USA from Hawaii to New Hampshire. He enjoyed big band and jazz music, auditing classes at Bowdoin College, watching the Bowdoin sports teams and volunteering with many local organizations.
He had a strong and abiding Catholic faith and his nine daughters report that he had “patience of a saint” for which they are forever grateful.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo All Saints Parish in Brunswick, at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 8. Interment will be at 1 p.m. at Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Springvale, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to CHANS Hospice Care, 60 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick ME 04011, midcoasthealth.com/chans or to a charity of your choice.
Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brackettfuneralhome.c om.
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