We created a GatheringUs memorial to celebrate the life of John (Jack) J Fearnsides. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort. Click on the heart to let us know you were here and to receive email updates. Thank you for contributing to this lasting memorial.
OBITUARY
Jack had an uncanny memory for facts, figures, and thousands of song lyrics. He loved baseball and supported his beloved Phillies through thick and thin. Extensive travels took him to all 50 states and 6 of 7 continents where he also has many friends. He was an avid reader of every form of literature while earning his PhD in Engineering and throughout his life. He was a story teller. He has left an... see moreJack had an uncanny memory for facts, figures, and thousands of song lyrics. He loved baseball and supported his beloved Phillies through thick and thin. Extensive travels took him to all 50 states and 6 of 7 continents where he also has many friends. He was an avid reader of every form of literature while earning his PhD in Engineering and throughout his life. He was a story teller. He has left an indelible mark on aviation while touching the lives of countless people, who will remember him as a mentor, a brilliant strategist, and a leader who rose from humble beginnings but never forgot his roots.
When I first learned of Jack's passing I was struck by the hole his passing left in this industry. But I also realized that "industry" was too cold and impersonal. Jack made this a community. He brought so many together... moreFrom Rick Heinrich:
When I first learned of Jack's passing I was struck by the hole his passing left in this industry. But I also realized that "industry" was too cold and impersonal. Jack made this a community. He brought so many together to share ideas and work on common goals.
While I did not know Jack well during his days at MITRE I was aware of his influence. But it was when we interacted while he was with Lockheed Martin that I came to appreciate Jack. We never sat on "opposite sides of the table", but always side by side working to make the airspace safer and more functional. We enjoyed taking the different roles of ground automation provider and aircraft automation developer and worked to optimize the integration of the capabilities into a more robust solution. Often switching sides to ensure our understanding of each other's views.
He truly worked within the community. An example was that while I knew Brad Culbertson from a variety of industry interactions, Jack brought Brad to the table and in those workings I got to know Brad on a more personal level.
Jack always welcomed new people and ideas. He offered perspectives that allowed all of us to think more broadly and not stay focused in our own "sandbox". Jack's approach and openness had a significant impact on how I interacted with the global community. It always brought a smile to my face when I worked with EUROCONTROL or the airlines and the lessons he taught me worked to improve the exchange of ideas and to work toward that next generation airspace.
I miss the conversations but more importantly I miss the warm handshake and smile when we saw each other - friends within that community. Always a kind word, always asking about family and colleagues, and always enjoying the exchange of life's interplay.
As I live in retirement I find that while I do miss some of the "technology", what I really miss is the people. That was something shared with Jack.