Wednesday, March 23, 2022
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Jack was a Holy Redeemer, Vernor Hwy boyhood friend. There were a group of 17 buddies that all hung out from grade school through High School, people called us the Lotus gang.
We were from different, grades, nationalities and ethnic backgrounds and all got along great. In the summers we hung out in playground at school and played basketball, solfball and football on the grass. In the winter we were in the gym...Danny Nerander would let us sneak into the gym, all you had to do was pound on the old steel door if you heard dribbling inside and we had great pickup basketball games on the best hardwood floor in the city.
After school we hung out and Duly Coney Island, which had a jute box in the back. So many fond memories like Ice skating at Clark Park, jumping the fence at the Zoo and Greenfield Village, riding our bikes over the Ambassador Bridge...taking a 30 or 40 mile ride into Canada to someones far away cottage. Watching the Pistons at Cobo Hall... riding around Belle Isle etc.
We had great grade school basketball and football coach Mr. Curry who helped Redeemer develop us and the school into great basketball program in High School.
Jack was big and strong for his age and he never used his strength to bully, dominate or intimidate anyone.
In solfball Jack was our Norm Cash, in football he was our Jim Brown, in basketball he was are Dave Debusher. He was witty, funny and even keeled. I must mention he was and alter boy as many of his friends were too and I believe was in the choir, and also played in the high school drama theater production, Green Acres.
We were all into Motown Music and Jack was our lead singer. Singing Temptations, Four Tops and James Brown songs.
Father Monroe would let us into the Old Convent on cold winter nites to keep us boys out of trouble and we would play cards, games and sing.
Jack was a first string player in basketball, football and baseball, he lettered in all four years. He was a natural and very competitive I believe he got Honorable Mention in the Catholic League Basketball All City Team.
The Lotus got together a couple times over the years but pretty much we all went our separate ways and many of us lost contact.
Jack's good buddy was Gary Callender they both were in the same class, alter boys and lived down Junction Street and walked up to the playground together, and both served in Vietnam.
Reflecting Jack was instrumental in me and my wife, and high school sweet heart, and wife of MaryAnn of 37 years, gone 12 years now of getting together. Jack was one of first of us to have his own Car... and we double dated and it was me and MaryAnn's first date.
I remember it was the summer of 1967 and Coach Bill McCartney (famous college football coach) was fresh out of college and coached our high school to a Catholic league City Championship. Coach McCartney had a team bbq gathering and scavenger hunt out at his place down river and Jack drove.
Jack will be missed by many of his family, friends and co-workers... and Jack will be missed by his boyhood Lotus buddies as we all own and hold a piece of Jack in our hearts. May he rest in peace! And thanks Jack for being a loyal buddy.
bro Mac Deuparo
