REMEMBERNG JACK PRENDERGAST!

Jack Playing Rugby into His Sixties!

I worked with Jack at Fred's Frozen Foods. Jack passed away a week ago at the age of eighty-one. He died from Alzheimers. He may have forgotten, but those who knew him never will.

Jack Prendergast was a friend to everyone he ever met. The guest book notes of sympathy in the Philadelphia Inquirer catches the very essence of Jack. He was Irish through and through. Jack was a pure salesman and natuarally born mentor to many. He was a story teller. In his sixties he played senior hockey and believe it of not rugby. I remember putting my hand on his shoulder once, and it was hard as a rock. He was sixty-two at the time. Now at seventy, myself I don't think he was old at all. Jack and I had our arguments, but it was all in the sincerity of our points of view. We laughed just as hard as we argued. Everybody who knew Jack loved and respected him and sought him out for the tall tales of sales and advice. I remember most that being with Jack were always good times with lots of laughs and a few beers. He thought the best of everybody.

I hadn't talked to Jack in years, but I have thought of him many times. The lesson to be learned is not to neglect old friendships. They all go away and are unretrievable except for the memories.

His son, John, is very involved in the issues of Darfur. There was a profile of John on Sixties Minutes last Sunday and he interviewed on MSNBC later in the week.The obituary asks that memorials can be made to Project Enough. In an article about John (JP), he said that his inspiration of service was instilled in him by his Catholic parents, Jack and Claire. I remember Jack being so proud of JPs work in the inner city of Philadelphia.

On the back of the picture above, Jack wrote the following note,

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he alone hears, however measured and far away.

To Sam: A guy who is also a little out of step. Signed Jack 2/25/88

Jack Prendergast was an original

God rest his good soul.

Sam