John Francis "Jack" Poole

John Francis (Jack) Poole passed away July 16, 2014 after a brief struggle with cancer.  A lifelong resident of Englewood Colorado, he graduated from Englewood High School in 1948, and married another lifelong Englewood resident, Bonnie Jean McFate, in 1950.  He started working at the Englewood Post Office in 1953 and carried the same mail route, Rural Route #1, for the next 32 years. 

In 1959, he volunteered with the Englewood Old Timers Board, working to create and promote youth sports programs.  That work turned into a volunteer position on the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission where Jack spent the next 25 years working to develop and expand parks and recreation facilities and activities for the City of Englewood.  Among the Commission’s accomplishments was the expansion of the Englewood Parks system, the building of the Englewood Recreation Center, and the development and completion of his favorite location, the Englewood Golf Course (Broken Tee).  He was also an avid softball player and coach during those years, spending many nights at Belleview and Centennial Parks playing and watching softball, with Bonnie and their four sons a constant presence, as well.

In 1985, he retired from both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Post Office and moved on to the next phase of his life.  He began working at the Englewood Golf Course as a Marshall, and over the next 15 years, he worked his way up the ranks to Assistant Manager.  He loved working at the golf course and playing golf on a daily basis.  After retiring from the golf course in 2000, he continued his daily golf outings, right up to the end of his life.  It seemed he was never far from the golf course, the recreation center, or his friends at Lindy’s Auto Service.

Jack’s friendly nature and contagious sense of humor endeared him to many in the Englewood community.  He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Bonnie; four sons: Gary, Scott, Shawn, and Tony, all educators, and his brother, Robert.  He was intensely proud of his sons and their accomplishments and was always ready to brag about them to anyone who would listen.  In addition, he leaves behind two daughters-in-law, Jane and Jill, six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.  But perhaps most telling, he leaves countless numbers of friends and acquaintances whose lives he impacted and enriched.  He will be missed.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Broken Tee Golf Course, 2101 W Oxford Ave, Englewood Colorado 80110, on September 13, 2014 from 4:00-6:00PM.  It will be a drop in, casual event with no sad “stuff”, as per Jack’s wishes.  In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to the Englewood Parks and Recreation Foundation at the Englewood Recreation Center, 1155 W. Oxford Avenue, Englewood CO  80110. Checks can be made to the City of Englewood. 

Family and friends are encouraged to share stories (guest book tab) and photograph's (photos tab) of Jack here on his website.