Jack Young, OLS# 1446

12/5/2017

The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors is sad to notify you of the death of Past President Jack Young OLS# 1446

Jack passed peacefully in Markham-Stouffville Hospital on Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 surrounded by his family. Survived by his wife, Sandy, his children Heather, Nancy, Bruce, Christie and grandchildren.

Jack was commissioned as an Ontario Land Surveyor, Canada Lands Surveyor and Professional Engineer. As well as private practice work in both surveying and engineering, he taught at Laurentian University and University of Toronto.
Throughout his professional life he was heavily involved in the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors as Councillor and President (1988) along with serving on numerous Committees. He was well known for his wise and sage advice, having helped many individual surveyors throughout his career.
Jack was key to the creation and management of the Association Senate. In recent years he acted as Parliamentarian during our Annual General Meetings and as Master of Ceremonies during the Veterans Dinner.
A private family service will be held in Markham on Tuesday, December 5th, 2017.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Jack's memory to the Educational Foundation of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors, Rotary Gravenhurst or Laurentian University.

Click here to visit the published obituary

Leave a comment

15 Comments

Jim Statham

12/6/2017 10:17:44 am

Despite having spent time with Jack and Sandy since their move south to our area and even visits to the hospital, Jack's passing came with shock and deep sorrow. Then came reflection to happier times. I joined Council when Jack was Past President but had met him in the mid 70's when we were both taking courses at Erindale. One of my many pleasant and funny memories with Jack was a cruise on his antique boat on Lake Muskoka. After dinner he took Annette and I, and I think Drew, on an evening cruise. As we slowly cruised along the island lined channel, he and Annette up front, Drew and I in the back, I noticed we were on course to come very close to an island. I thought well he knows these waters. Then my hydrographic experience clicked in and I said, 'do you always come this close to shore?' He looked, cut power, turned the wheel and 'Bang'.
Rest well good friend.

Paul Miller

12/6/2017 11:56:34 am

This was totally unexpected.

Jack was at the AGM last February and looked the same as always. The guy didn’t age.
I was at Erindale in the mid 70s when Jack was also a student there. He had gone back to school and was doing the Erindale program in 2 years. I will always remember the evening we went to the Blind Duck after a photogrammetry lab for a few “jars”. There was Tom Erdman, Jack Young, Grant McBurney, myself and Howard Turner.

Tom had just got a fresh pack of cigarettes from the machine and Jack wanted to show him a neat trick. Jack bet Tom a quarter he could balance a cigarette on the edge of the new pack, tap it with his finger and catch it in his mouth as it went flipping through the air. Tom took the bet and Jack studied the pack for a second, then brought his fist down hard and smashed the pack to smithereens.

“Damn! I missed! Here is your quarter”

Tom looked a bit shell shocked—he had forgotten that Jack was very anti- smoking.

He was that kind of guy; gonna miss him

Richard Preiss

12/6/2017 12:13:51 pm

I was Jack's Sergeant-at-arms during his AGM. Just before the piper was to pipe in the procession to open the AGM, Jack came to me and requested that I find two glasses of scotch and bring them to him once the piper had finished. He then toasted the piper. I don't remember where I found scotch that morning.
Jack's daughter and son-in-law lived in my town for a time and when Jack came to look after the grand kids, he would saunter down to my office, unannounced, plunk himself into a chair and start to talk. A few hours later he was gone and I was better for the visit.

Paul Riddell

12/6/2017 04:19:05 pm

My condolences to Sandy and Jack's Family. I served on council when Jack was President and have many good memories of Jack's astute comments around the conference table and the fun we had after council meetings. Jack has definitely left his mark on our association as an educator, as a professional, as a leader, as a member of council as an advisor and as chairman of the Veteran's Dinner. His smiling face will be missed at future annual Meetings. God Bless You Jack.

Eric Bundgard

12/6/2017 12:43:28 pm

I will always hold with me Jack's mischievous smile, his easy, welcoming manner, and his twinkling eyes - particularly as he attended resolutely to his official Association Senate duties. His passing is a true loss to his personal family and broader Association family, and we are all the better by having had the privilege of his company, howsoever briefly. My sincere condolences.

Eric Ansell

12/6/2017 04:35:39 pm

As with most I will remember Jack very fondly for his helping and professional manner but also for his happy and cheerful demeaner. I, together with most members of the senate, enjoyed Jack and Sandy’s company at the senate picnic just back at the end of September this year. I am glad we had that time together.

As many know I decide to come back onto council for 2016. At the AGM this year in Ottawa, Jack was sitting in one of the plush easy chairs by the fireplace in the hotel lobby. I came out of the lobby bar and
Jack took notice and stared at my forehead. I said, “Hi Jack” and he replied with; “I don’t see STUPID tattooed on your forehead, just what is the matter with you?” He quickly followed up with some kinder words. He will be very deeply missed by not only his family but his professional family as well. Farewell Jack.

Crystal Cranch

12/6/2017 06:12:08 pm

Jack Young - the guy in the brown suit - the guy who hired me out of University and signed my articling contract - the guy who was a mentor and later, my friend.

I pass on my heartfelt condolences to Sandy and the whole family. Jack was always quick to pull out the photos and brag about his ever expanding family. A smile was ever present - with a true sparkle in his eyes - when he spoke about Sandy and his children and grandchildren.

I spent a good deal of yesterday recalling my early years as a professional and remembering how Jack helped shape my career and my business philosophy. He stepped forward and offered me some really good advise time and time again, and I will very much miss seeing his smiling face and sharing a warm him at the AGM. Rest easy my mentor, my teacher, my friend.

Kerry Boehme

12/7/2017 06:51:29 am

As a candidate for Council in 1998, I spoke first to the South Central Group and of course was a bit wobbly in my presentation. At 8:05 the next morning Jack was on the phone delivering a verbal kick-in-the-pants, telling me to tell our membership what I COULD do, not what I couldn't do and that he fully supported my platform. Whenever I have a little bit of self-doubt I still remember that early-morning call, even after 20 years.

Jack Monteith

12/7/2017 08:49:08 am

We have all lost a true friend and incredible resource. I shall always remember Jack's invaluable recommendations and assistance in support of the Educational Foundation.

John Vinklers

12/8/2017 10:19:39 am

I worked with Jack, as Meeting Chairman, at his Annual Meeting in 1989. He was business-like with an upbeat demeanor, usually with a smile. Near the end of the proceedings he called "a short meeting with the new Council" and summoned me as well. This was not on the agenda so I was a little apprehensive until, with his infectious grin, he brought out the single malt.

Jack was one of the good guys and is fondly remembered.

Mike Maughan

12/8/2017 01:48:56 pm

I last saw Jack at the 2016 annual meeting in London. I had arranged to meet him at Pearson Airport and drive him to London. We had a great 2 days catching up before I had to return.
I truly appreciate the efforts he made to keep the Senate afloat (even in Scotch) and as chairman of the Veteran's dinner.
Thank you Jack. You will be missed.

Blain Martin

12/8/2017 04:23:00 pm

Like many others, my friendship with Jack started during my Erindale Days in the late 1970’s. I can clearly remember Bob Gunn introducing me to him as we stood in Bob’s office. Jack was one of those people that impress you so much you always recall the first time you met.

Over the years Jack and I had occasional contact and the occasional lunch together as we discussed various Association matters or things in the business world.

I have really gotten to know Jack during my tenure as Executive Director. Over these last 8 years he has been a great supporter of many of our AOLS initiatives. We would meet fairly regularly and he always gave me incredibly good advice on the various things that I wanted to do or change. Of course the AGM was where he really helped out by leading the Veteran’s Dinner and acting in the role of Parliamentarian.

I am surly going to miss his guidance and I offer Sandy and all his family my deepest condolences on all of our loss.

Bruce McMurchy

12/11/2017 03:55:09 pm

Our sympathies for Sandy and Family

There was a time when Jack Young and I both lived in Brampton, as well as, both serving on Council of the Association, around the time of the Ottawa Invasion, who join with us.

Therefore, sometimes, Jack and I would share rides to the Council Meetings on Yonge Street. I had a Model A Ford once as a Survey Vehicle, bur Jack went one better with an even older vintage car, like a Model T, which actually took us to at least one of the those Meetings.

At the same time, Council and Staff thought that there should always be an election for all Council Positions. The Body that is now known as the Senate, thanks to Jack, called to see if I wound run against Jack for President. I said that if I thought I could do a better job I would have run.

As a former Chairman of the Veterans Dinner, I can appreciate the work that goes into organizing that Dinner over the years.

Sincerely,
Bruce & Bev McMurchy

Drew Annable

12/12/2017 03:21:40 pm

I first met Jack Young, standing side-by-side at the urinals during a washroom break in David Lambden’s law course at Erindale College when we were both students. I was a part-time student, coming in from London for the evening lectures with my friend, Norm Sutherland (who picked me up on his way from Petrolia). While we were doing our business, Jack leaned over and asked, “So, how’s John Bagnall”. As only Jack could, he startled me. I didn’t know him at that point, and didn’t know anyone else for that matter except for my friend Norm Sutherland, so I was a taken back that anyone would know John Bagnall who was a long-time party chief at AGM in London, (and a character in his own right). After assuring that I didn’t wet myself, I asked Jack how the hell he know John Bagnall, so he explained that he grew up in Lucan, a small town North of London and worked with AGM in the summers during his university days. We hit it off that evening and have been good friends ever since.
Jack was the one who phoned me at the office one day in 1990 and asked me to let my name stand to run for Council. I had turned down the opportunity up to that point, but Jack was a hard guy to say ‘no’ to. While contemplating his request, I asked him if he would do it again. He said, ‘not a chance…but I would never miss doing it the first time’. Sage advice as only Jack could give it. Since then, my wife Ethel and I have been good friends with Sandy and Jack and have enjoyed many fun get-togethers with them, the O’Sullivan’s and the Statham’s. Many times, these get-togethers would be at Jack and Sandy’s beautiful place on Lake Muskoka but sometimes Jack and Sandy would visit with Ethel and I in London. These were fun times, with many stories that grew as the evenings wore on and will be sorely missed. Ethel and my condolences go out to Sandy and her family, and to those from the survey community who were touched by him.
Rest in peace old friend,
Drew and Ethel Annable

Neal Morris P.Eng.

12/21/2017 04:46:26 pm

My deepest sympathies for Sandy and Family
Jack was one of the Drainage Tribunal Members for my first Drainage Tribunal hearing. As a young nervous engineer, he was very professional and understanding. His advise at the end of the day was "to not take any of the comment personnel and shake it off and have a good glass of scotch at home. You will have many more tribunal hearings in the career." I have from his advise very apted. Jack was a gentleman and a scholar and will be missed.

A MEMORIAL
TO HONOUR PAST ONTARIO LAND SURVEYORS

the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors