JOHN ALDEN METCALFE 1933-2021
John Alden Metcalfe, “Jack,” passed away peacefully on January 26, 2021 at age 87. Born in Chicago, he was the son of Charles Robert Dean Metcalfe and Clara Louise Brown Metcalfe. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings – Eleanor Elizabeth (Metcalfe) Quinn, Mary Grace Metcalfe, and Charles Edward Metcalfe. Jack is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patricia “Pat” (Palmer), son John Anand Metcalfe, two granddaughters – Maggie and Ruby, and several grand-nieces.
In 1953 while Jack was attending Wilson Junior College, the Army drafted him and he spent two years doing ‘radio repair’ for them. In return, the GI Bill provided him with the opportunity to finish a biology degree at Roosevelt University, and a Master’s degree in Outdoor Education at Northern Illinois University. He and Pat’s honeymoon was a canoe trip on the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota – where he later brought many Scout trips. Ten-days after the wedding they both started Peace Corps training – both serving for two years in rural India in 1962-64. They returned to Northern Illinois University where Jack completed his Master’s degree and joined the Outdoor Education faculty at the NIU Lorado Taft Field Campus in Oregon, Illinois where he taught for seven years. He spent a year at Michigan State University taking courses for a PhD. He also taught at Illinois State University in Bloomington, Illinois before moving the family to Texas in 1977 where he supervised the Outdoor Education program for the Houston Independent School District for several years. With a young son growing up fast, Jack and Pat started their own business – Metcalfe Enterprises – which allowed them to have a more flexible schedule for family activities.
Active in Boy Scouts from an early age, Jack credited Scouting with saving him from joining the southside-Chicago neighborhood gangs, and giving him his first exposure to Scout camps as a camper and camp staff – Camp Owasippe, the Chicago-area Scout camp in Whitehall, Michigan. In Scouting he earned Eagle rank, and continued his involvement with Scouts and Scouting throughout his life. In addition to being a Webelos leader, Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Unit Commissioner with troops in Oregon, Illinois and Houston, Texas -- he participated in University of Scouting trainings, Woodbadge courses, Powderhorn courses with several Councils, National Jamboree cooking presentations, Camp Accreditation visits, and Wilderness Survival training courses for Scouts and Scouters of many age levels. Being a graduate of both Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School added to his expertise as an expert in Wilderness Survival. Jack also participated in International Scouting in many ways – including being actively involved in the development of the Woodbadge program in the Central-American country of Belize. He was the leader of the Belize contingent of youth attending the International Jamboree in Sweden in 2011. From 1982 thru 1996 Jack and the family participated in the annual Hands-Across-The-Border scouting conferences held alternately in Mexico and the southern U.S.
A Memorial gathering will be held at a later date when it will be safe for Jack’s many friends and Scouting family to gather and celebrate his memory. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.