John W. Ward (Jack)
Jack passed peacefully from this life in the loving presence of his family on the 15th of July, 2016, at his home in Kentfield. He was born on the 27th of June, 1918 in San Francisco, California to Edward B. and Claire C. Ward. Jack graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1935 and received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1939. He was married to Catherine (Kay) Roncevic on November 18, 1943 while serving at Wright/Patterson Army Air Force Base in Akron, Ohio. Jack served in the Army Air Corp. from 1942 to 1945, achieving the rank of Captain. Jack was the owner, Chairman and CEO of Edward B. Ward & Company, the Carrier Air Conditioning Distributor for Northern California. The Company was quite successful, having received multiple national sales and marketing awards. Jack was a dedicated supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and a recipient of the Service to Youth Award. He was a past member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Rotary Club and recipient of the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He has been a long time member of the Olympic Club of San Francisco and the Meadow Club in Fairfax, California.
Jack was an avid snow skier, imparting his love of this sport to his children, and skied well into his 80s. He was a passionate golfer from an early age and was a proud member of the Cal golf team. He also enjoyed boating on his beloved Lake Tahoe. Jack appreciated classical music and attended the San Francisco Symphony as a subscribing member for well over thirty years. He was also a world traveler enjoying multiple trips to Italy and numerous safaris to Africa.
He was predeceased in death by his wife of 46 years, Kay, and his daughter, Claire, his son, Peter and earlier by his brothers Edward B. Jr. and Robert E. Jack is survived by his daughter, Pamela W. Cooper (Joseph), John W. Ward Jr., Michael J. Ward (Nora), and Edward B. Ward (Susan). Jack is also survived by his grandchildren; Kimberly Flores (Mathew), Katie Dandurand (Dale), Emily E. Ward, Michael J. Ward Jr., Ryan C. Ward, Danielle A. Ward and Julia K. Nazario. Jack is also survived by two great grandchildren, Logan Wells and Gavin Ward Flores.
Jack will be remembered as a kind, loving and generous man and will be deeply missed by family and friends.
There will be a celebration of Jack’s life, at the Meadow Club in Fairfax, California, at 1:00pm on Tueday, August 9th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco, 380 Fulton Street, San Francisco, California 94102. Online condolences to the family may be placed at www.keatonfunerals.com