Warnock, John W.
passed away at the age of 88 years on Friday, May 27, 2022 in Victoria, BC. He is survived by his former wife Betty Meyers, a Victoria artist, and his children: Delia (Dave), Robert, and Dufferin (Donna). Jack loved visiting his grandchildren: Grey, Hunter, Cheryl (Tyler), Natasha (Andrew), Lizzy, and Max. His great grandchildren also held a special place in his heart: Domiane, Kaeden, Karl, Jasper, Kody, Taiya-Lynn and Kenton.
Jack also leaves to mourn his other family in Peterborough, Ontario including Susan Ferren, his longtime friend and companion, Don Ferren, David Newhouse and Arsalan Ahmad. They will miss him so much, as will his siblings, Bruce Warnock (Deborah), and Lynne Hester (Jim), along with many nieces and nephews.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, "Jack" attended Duke University before his interest in International Affairs led to his pursuit of graduate studies at Georgetown University and then American University. Following his studies, Jack worked within the Library of Congress and then the U.S. Foreign Service under the Kennedy administration. He moved with his family to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in a period that coincided with the expansion of the U.S. war in Vietnam (1961-1975). Jack taught in the Political Science Department at the University of Saskatchewan and later moved to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia where he became a fruit farmer. He later left farming to return to teaching first in Victoria and finally at the University of Regina. His return to Saskatchewan in the 1980's brought him back to where his heart felt most at home. It was during this period of activism that he met his close friend Susan Ferren.
Jack was a lifelong, committed political, social justice and environmental activist, political commentator, writer, and university teacher. He leaves behind an incomparably rich political legacy. His work inspired a vision of what society could be like and he never once stopped working towards that. Whether it was through his involvement in the Waffle, his anti-war activism, his work with social justice committees or anti-poverty organizations, The National Farmers Union, or as Special Advisor to the Aboriginal Council of Regina, Jack gave it his all. He was one of the founding members of the green party of Saskatchewan--The New Green Alliance--and he was made a lifelong honorary member of that party in recognition of his work. He was also a major contributor to Canadian Dimension and Briarpatch magazines. You can read more about Jack and read some of his many publications on his blog johnwwarnock.blogspot.com.
Heartfelt thanks to Jack's family and friends, and Staff of Mount Saint Mary's for their undying love and support during his difficult and heartbreaking struggle with ALS.
Those wishing to make a donation in Jack's memory can donate to the ALS Society or to any progressive, or Indigenous cause of their choice. At his request, an informal gathering in honour of Jack will take place at the farm near Bulyea, Saskatchewan at a later date.
https://leaderpost.remembering.ca/obituary/john-warnock-1085350699
