POMFRET, Jack Bradshaw

November 22, 1922 - November 6, 2019

Our beloved father, Jack, 96, passed away peacefully at home on November 6, 2019. Born in Vancouver, he was adopted by Margaret (née Freshwater) and Albert Pomfret, who gave him love and sound principles upon which to build a good life.

Jack was predeceased by his first wife, Pat Wilcock, and second wife, Marilyn Russell; his son Jay; and son-in-law Richard McRae. He is survived by daughters Lynne (Peter) and Penny (McRae); daughter-in-law Lexa; and grandchildren Kate (Royden), Jesse, James, Kendra, Morgan, Lauran (Joe), Sam, and Joel (Jill). He was blessed with 11 great-grandchildren.

Jack will be remembered not only as the University of British Columbia’s longest serving coach (1946 to 1987) but also as one of the great all-around athletes in BC sports history.

After an outstanding athletic career at Vancouver’s Lord Byng High School, Jack received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Washington. In basketball, he was captain of the Huskies and was named to the Pacific Coast All-Star team.

Jack set Pacific Conference and Canadian records in swimming, and was on the U of Washington world record medley relay swimming team; he was an NCAA All-American, and in 1941, set a world record in the 50 yard breaststroke.

Jack played semipro baseball and hockey while attending U of Washington and received offers from the New York Yankees and the New York Rangers. He also made his mark in rugby, soccer, football, lacrosse, and boxing.

Jack interrupted his university education at Washington (and a chance to play with the Seattle Rainiers in 1943) to serve three years in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Returning to Washington in 1946, Jack received a B.A. and later an M.Sc. in Physical Education from U of Washington. Following graduation, Jack was offered an instructor’s job at UBC in the PE department. Given post-war uncertainty, he left behind his dream of playing pro sport and accepted the job. In 1946, he began a 41 year career as a dedicated teacher, coach, and sport administrator. He considered teaching his most important responsibility and encouraged students at all levels of sport.

Jack will not only be remembered as an extraordinary athlete ("as versatile and effective as a Swiss Army knife," wrote Archie McDonald in The Vancouver Sun) but also as an award-winning coach at UBC, where he coached football, men’s and women’s swimming and men’s and women’s basketball. He won five Western Canadian championships with men’s basketball, and was an assistant coach of the Canadian 1956 Olympic basketball team which included three of his UBC players.

While coaching basketball at UBC, Jack continued to play locally, on four

Canadian Senior "A" Championship Teams, three with the Cloverleafs and one with the Meralomas.

In 1965, Jack coached UBC’s swim team to the inaugural Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union Men’s Swim Championships, and in 1971, was named CIAU Coach of the Year. In addition to his coaching at UBC, Jack was a coach and administrator for the Vancouver Amateur Swim Team throughout the ’60s and ’70s. His aim was to cultivate championship-level swimmers, many of whom attended UBC and went on to World Games.

One of Jack’s proudest achievements was heading the campaign to build the UBC Aquatic Centre. He took on the chairmanship of the Centre and fundraising for it. The Centre was completed in 1978.

Throughout Jack’s career he served on many national and international associations and committees. He was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

Retiring in 1987, Jack had much to do. He travelled extensively with his wife Marilyn, served as President of the Arbutus Club, advocated for the sport of curling, sang and travelled with his new team, the Welsh Men’s Choir, and spent time with his grandchildren and children, often on Gambier Island.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff of Verity Home Care for their kindness and professionalism in the care of our father.

A service for Jack will be held at St Philip’s Church on January 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the Arbutus Club from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Jack’s childhood church, St Philip’s.