Jack Graham Phoenix

PHOENIX, Jack Graham
March 6, 1944 – September 28, 2023
London, Ontario

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Jack Graham Phoenix at University Hospital. Jack has been a resident of the new Southbridge Long Term Care Home (formerly Chelsey Park) since 2015, soon after his stroke. He is a lifelong resident of London with the exception of a few years where he lived in St. Catharines, and a couple of decades in Kitchener-Waterloo. He worked in the Heating and Air Conditioning business for the majority of his working years, retiring from the City of Kitchener Gas Company. He grew up in East London and attended Ealing Public School and Beal Secondary School. As a teenager, he began serving his community as a Disc Jockey doing parties for young people. He operated a “Young People’s Group” and later served on the Board of Directors at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of London. He continued that hobby throughout his life and has been a part of many people’s celebrations over many decades. He was the resident disc jockey at the nursing home, doing Gaither Gospel and other events during his time in LTC, right up until this past summer. He was the Charter President for the London-Middlesex Civitan Club in 1975. The club’s motto is “Builders of Good Citizenship” and is a volunteer organization dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities. During his time with the KW Civitan Club he appeared as the life-sized version of the “Good Bear” in association with the Waterloo Regional Police Department. This project provided for the distribution of “Good Bear” teddy bears in traumatic situations. He was at many City of Kitchener family functions, parades, festivals and celebrations in conjunction with the Police force. He was often found at the Police and Fire & Safety Village working alongside the officers and fireman encouraging good safety practices. The name Civitan is derived from the Latin word meaning citizenship and Civitan members are known to have certain traits in common. The strength of conviction, the courage to care, the desire to get involved and make a difference and they all have a BIG heart. Jack has demonstrated these qualities throughout his life, both before and through Civitan. Jack remained a lifetime member of the London Middlesex club and helped to sponsor progressive Euchre tournaments at Chelsey Park to raise money for the Home’s recreation department (prior to Covid). He made many friends at the nursing home and that community is going to deeply miss his dynamic presence throughout the entire home. Jack is survived by his wife for just short of 60 years, Julie (nee Forgrave), his daughters Cheryl (Bill) Taylor and Tracie (Mark) Hilchey, as well as his grandchildren, Matthew (Naama), Casey (Karen), Weston (Meaghan), Micartney (Vitoria), Gage (Krystina), Brock, Chase and his great-grandchildren, Billie, Saul and Daniel. He was predeceased by his parents Milton and Dorothy (Oscar), his brothers Ray (Doris), Bob, stepbrother Conrad, stepsister Donna, as well as his niece Kathy. He will be missed by his only remaining sibling Elaine (Bill) Blaney as well as his stepsister Gwenda (Lloyd) Kirilenko and his many nieces and nephews. Jack had many very close friends throughout his lifetime, an impossible list to define. A celebration of life service will take place at The Church of the Epiphany at 11 Briscoe St. W. London, Ontario, on Saturday, October 7 at 10:30 a.m., with a time for lunch to follow where I’m sure many memories will be shared. Please RSVP if possible so that we can prepare appropriately to host you at; jackphoenixservice@gmail.com. In lieu of Flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: The Church of The Epiphany, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation (specifically in honour of the Heart Failure Clinic) who provided exceptional care during his most difficult last few months, London Health Science Centre (specifically in honour of the ICD Clinic) who helped to keep him with us for the extra time we had or (specifically in honour of the Cardiology Department) whose angels cared for him and remained with him in his final hours).