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 Corneal John Mack II, 77, also known as "Lung John, UJ, and Johnny," a resident of Annapolis since 1985 and formerly of Washington D.C., Virginia, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe, died at home December 7 surrounded by his family and friends, after over five years battling Melanoma.
Born May 1, 1936 in Washington, D.C. to the late Corneal and Helen Mack, John and his only sister, Marilyn, spent their childhood in residence at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., where from 1941-1973 their father served as the General Manager and later as Vice President. John was a graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School, University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, and University of Virginia. He spent much of his career working for the University of Maryland University College's overseas program, providing higher education to the U.S. Military community. He worked abroad in Newfoundland, Iceland, Germany, Vietnam and Thailand. In 1985 he moved into his family's Annapolis home, married Tasanee Soontornsaratool, and adopted her young son, Arthur. After 1990, he was self employed at Tolly Environmental Systems.
John listened to NPR on his Walkman radio every day. He enjoyed reading the Washington Post, taking daytime naps with his tabby cat, Chili, at his side, playing with his son's dog, June, eating delicious food and drinking good beer, picking steamed crabs, finding the best prices on groceries, riding his lawn mower with his hat and big mug of iced tea, and riding roller coasters with his family and friends. John participated in his Bay Ridge community through meetings and volunteer activities. He was a member of the University of Maryland University College "Overseas Marylanders" and Harvard Business School alumni association.
John is survived by his wife Tasanee Soontornsaratool Mack; son, Arthur Soontornsaratool and his wife Emily of Baltimore; sister, Marilyn Mack Jarboe of Washington, D.C.; nieces and nephew, Suzanne Simpson of Fort Collins, CO, Teri Jarboe of Washington, D.C., Leslie Leadbeater of Ridgley, Mary Catherine Jarboe of Washington, D.C., Sheila Laybourn of Germantown, and Jenifer Bouchard of Washington D.C, and John Jarboe Jr. of Davidsonville; 12 grand nieces and nephews; and a great-grand niece and nephew.
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Bruce Janoff
JOHN MACK EULOGY (December 16, 2013)
On behalf of John’s many friends from all over the world who could not be here today, I am honored to write a few words in celebration of the life of C. John Mack. I was lucky enough to spend some personal time with John during the final months of his long illness. The last time I saw him was in Annapolis about two weeks before he died. As John, Tasanee and I sat in their living room in Bay Ridge overlooking the beautiful Chesapeake, it was obvious that disease had ravaged John’s body, but when I asked how he was doing, he simply smiled and said, “good.” I wanted to hug him then for the uncomplaining courage he displayed that day and on all the other days when his pain and discomfort must have been almost unbearable. Yes John was a courageous man, but he was also a caring, generous friend and colleague to all who knew him well.
On 9 November 2013, he showed his courage in public one last time when he insisted on attending the reunion of University of Maryland University College faculty and staff in Adelphi. On that fine day he clearly enjoyed the camaraderie, but it also tired him tremendously. Nevertheless, he vowed that he would make it to the next UMUC reunion scheduled for Las Vegas in April, 2014. “I might not be able to drive to the Grand Canyon this time,” he said, “but I’ll be there.” And indeed he was there in in spirit, and in the desert warmth all his friends raised a glass to toast his kind heart one last time. There is one final point I would like to make. It is in code that only John and I understood. The reference dates back to our halcyon days in Bangkok in the less complicated times of the 1970s when he was area director for Thailand and I was on the English faculty. The term is "EeeP!" If John is out there somewhere, now free of pain, and sees this term, I know he will be smiling. On behalf of Carole Amendola an myself and so many others, our deepest sympathy goes out to Tasanee, Arthur, and all the other members of John Mack’s loving family.
Respectfully submitted, Bruce L. Janoff, friend Las Vegas, Nevada
Charles Brumfield
I first met John in 1965. I was new to UMUC, and I assume he was pretty new too. I forgot his exact title, but he was the UMUC accountant in Heidelberg. There was a close-knit group centered in Heidelberg and environs that got together rather regularly for dinners or parties, some of us traveling from Weisbaden, Ramstein, or other parts of Germany just for the weekends. The group consisted of John Mack, Ben Massey, Vida Bandis, Dot Ferjo, Jack LaBlanc, Carl Bock, Bob Daly, Christine Leyopolt, Bill Warner, myself, and a few I know I'm leaving out, with apologies. Carl was tragically killed in a car accident during those days of our youth, and a couple (but only a couple) besides John have passed away in the years since.
The program was smaller back then, and it was easier to form close friendships. John was everybody's best friend.
I left the program in 1969 and didn't see or hear from John again until 2012 (?) (I think it was, or 2013), when Joe Arden got us together for lunch in Bangkok, Thailand. We were to meet in the lobby of the Sheraton Grande on Sukhumvit. Joe was running a little late, and the lobby was somewhat crowded. But I recognized John the moment I laid eyes on him, after some 45 years. The three of us had a great lunch and reminisced about the good ole days. Needless to say, it was wonderful to see John again. It was interesting that we had in common that both of us had chosen Thai wives.
I knew John had had some health problems, but still I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing.
Charles Brumfield