Jack Lonsdale, Warren, died on Monday, December 28, 2015. He was born December 19, 1934. A full obituary will follow.
John Whittaker “Jack” Lonsdale passed away in Burlington, Vermont, on December 28, 2015, after becoming suddenly ill. Jack enjoyed every moment of his 81 years.
Jack was born in New York City in 1934, the son of John Whittaker Lonsdale, a real estate executive and president of Brown Harris Stevens, and Elsie Peterson, a social worker. He grew up in New York City spending summers in Mt. Kisco, New York, and Murray Bay, Canada. Jack graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, and Harvard College in 1957 where his sense of fun was nurtured at The Fly Club and Hasty Pudding.
Jack served in the U.S. Navy as a communications officer on the staff of the admiral of the Sixth Fleet based in the Mediterranean. His service included participation in the invasion of Lebanon in 1958. After his discharge from the Navy, Jack went to work in New York City at First National City Bank, later named Citibank, and Wall Street investment firms Cyrus J. Lawrence and Baker Weeks & Co.
Jack’s love of sports led him to continue to play hockey as goalie for the St. Nick’s, one of the oldest men’s amateur ice hockey teams in the country. On weekends, he hosted a catered bus trip leaving from Park Avenue bound for the Sugarbush ski area in Vermont. He met Eileen Morris Field at Sugarbush at Ulla Lodge, now known as the Hyde Away, and in 1962 they were married. Continuing their ski enthusiasm, they drove weekends to Sugarbush. After their divorce, Jack’s love of Vermont led him to move permanently to Sugarbush Village beginning his entrepreneurial life as a restauranteur and ski instructor at Sugarbush under Sigi Grottendorfer.
Some summers he taught skiing in Portillo, Chile, often accompanied by his son, Patrick, one day even hailing a railroad train for a bizarre hitchhiking trip to work. Enthusiastically taking part in life in Warren, Jack was appointed second constable for the town of Warren twice in the early 2000s. His duties included being backup dog warden.
Jack’s restaurant life grew and he worked in almost every venue in The Valley including ownership in Sam Rupert’s Restaurant. For many years Jack’s welcoming smile greeted all those who visited The Den, and Chez Henri will not be the same without him.
Jack will be remembered for his cheer, his humor and his delight in living. Considered a legend in the Sugarbush Valley, he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Jack is survived by his son, Patrick, and Patrick’s wife, Megan, of Ben Lomond, California; his sister, Susan Iglehart of Glyndon, Maryland; two grandchildren; three nieces and nephews; and six great nieces and nephews, all of whom loved him dearly.
A community commemoration and celebration of Jack’s life will be held at the Gate House Lodge at Sugarbush on Friday, January 22, 2016, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted by St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church at Our Lady of the Snows, 6305 Main Street (Route 100), Waitsfield, Vermont 05673, at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 23, 2016.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation (marked “in memory of Jack Lonsdale”) to the High Fives Foundation by mail (P.O. Box 3212, Truckee, California 96160) or online at www.highfivesfoundation.org.
