Jack D’Ambrosio
Jack D’Ambrosio was a legend. In the days since he passed away from a heart attack on January
17th, 2024. Jack’s community of family, friends, clients, and colleagues have shared countless stories about him. To a person, these stories have highlighted his kindness, integrity, humor, generosity, expertise, and straightforward nature. We know and cherish him as a role model in business and in life. His family is devastated by this sudden loss.
Born in Rochester New York in 1947, Jack soon moved to New Mexico with his parents, brother, and sisters. He attended Highland High School and was a decorated multi-sport athlete. During his senior year, the Hornets won the State Football Championship. He thought it would be a good idea to make some flyers that night, and the next morning they passed out the flyers to fellow students arriving on campus for classes. The flyers announced that school was canceled that day due to the football victory. It wasn’t. But the kids didn’t know that, and they went home. Jack was summarily suspended. He laughed every time he told that story.
Jack earned his college degree from UNM in civil engineering and worked at the Public Service Company of New Mexico and in the commercial construction field. However, he felt a deep calling towards archery and trained regularly to develop his skills and abilities in consistently hitting the Bullseye. He especially appreciated the intimacy and simplicity of shooting vintage recurve bows. Jack decided to open an archery store in the 1980s, the first of its kind in New Mexico, taking a big risk and shifting his career focus entirely with a brand new venture. Albuquerque Archery was born, and he became the leading expert in New Mexico, well respected by all who sought his advice. Thousands of people came through his doors. He supported young archers and hunters, hobbyists and pro fessionals.The Archery Shoppe lives on to this day.
Jack loved nature and being outdoors. Noone knew the Sandia mountains better than he did, especially the front side. Go hiking anywhere with him in the foothills, and he could tell you what was around every bend, up every canyon. He found deer when no one else could. His daughter Marnee held precious these times with him, hundreds of hikes and adventures. He loved those mountains with all his soul. His ashes will be scattered at the site of his favorite painting, Pass the Buck.
After he sold the shop, Jack continued to shoot arrows and collect rare bows. He even set up a small archery range in his backyard, and when you watched him shoot, his mastery was evident. Jack continued to practice and shoot with up to 55 pound bows until the week he passed away. He often said to his best friend Mark, “We need to get some arrows in the air.”
Jack enjoyed going to garage sales, negotiating for items and learning about values, never shy about early birding. His interest in estate sales and reselling increased and soon he was learning more and more about books and paintings. He expanded his business opportunities to include an eBay shop in 2002, which was really something considering his lack of technical expertise at the time. Over time Jack sold more than 11,000 items and has a 100% positive feedback on eBay with clients all over the country, many of whom have already conveyed what a pleasure he was to work with. If you received a purchased treasure in one of his handmade boxes, you’re lucky.
Jack became a leading expert of western paintings, New Mexican art, and older books. His relationships with galleries, estate companies, individual collectors, and the resale community was unmatched. He started D’Ambrosio’s: Art Buyer & Appraiser. He was a self-taught framer and restorer, setting up a studio and office in his house. There was never a website, no social media, no staff. He succeeded through sheer will and charm, honesty & fairness.
Jack routinely went above and beyond for people, especially those in need. He was a protector, provider of work, selfless liaison, trustworthy source, and dedicated grandfather. He hated thieves and liars, & lived by a code of honor.
Jack was extremely proud of his son Marcus for gaining a B.A. in Business Administration, becoming an entrepreneur, and managing a business of his own.
Jack was a regular at the Frontier Restaurant for close to 50 years, especially enjoying Sunday morning breakfast with his daughter Marnee and spotting the owners Dorothy and Larry Rainosek, and legendary news anchor Dick Knipfing, at the round table in the back room.
Jack experienced challenges in his life, including a near fatal spider bite, battle with cancer, and very close call with West Nile Virus. He beat them all. He was so strong. Always, but especially the last ten years while he was creating a joyful home with Sandy, Jack set intentions to make the most of his time, enjoy life, have good times, and look after those he loved.
Jack is survived by his love Sandra Pemberton, loving daughter Marnee Benson and son Marcus D’Ambrosio, and Mason the Dog. He is also survived by extended family, including Gami Gutman, Simon Gutman, Zoe, Abigail, Sam, Ben, and Dana Vermette, the Kissells, and cousins in New York, California, Louisiana, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.
As he used to say, party on and play to win. A celebration of life will be held for Jack D’Ambrosio in Albuquerque on his birthday June 4th, 2024. Contact a family member or friend for details.
Donations may be made in Jack’s name to the University of New Mexico College of Fine Arts, for more information see finearts.unm.edu/give-to-cfa/