Obituary of Jack Edward James Elliott

Jack Edward James Elliott, 85, of London, Ontario, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2025 surrounded by his loving family.  Born in Belleville, Ontario, on January 3, 1940, to Jack  Elliott (Sr) and Agnes (Christopher), Jack was the eldest of two children.  Jack is survived by the love of his life Dianne (Rawson), his three children, Susan Quaglia (Albert), Robert Elliott and Kristine Edge (Marshall), He is also survived by his loving sister Joan Flindall (Graydon), niece Laurie-Anne Thompson (Mike), great niece Morgan Thompson and nephew Craig,  along with his five grandchildren, Jordana, Brandon, Mackenzie, Julia and Jacklyn. Also missing him are his furry buddies, Eddie - his best buddy, Cooper, Tucker, Tags and Beau.

Throughout his life he excelled at any sport he took up or simply dabbled in.  He loved baseball and played it throughout his life. He started in little league as a pitcher and caught the eye of coaches.  After throwing his arm out at a young age, he played in various positions but excelled at shortstop and third base.  Teammates referred to his Wilson ball glove as “The Hoover.”  He was fortunate enough to play fastball on the same team as his father Jack Sr. and the Golden Jet, Bobby Hull.  He picked up golf when he was 19 and played the game with a passion for the rest of his life - a swing and tempo so smooth and unchanging all through the years. Hockey was also a passion for Jack.  He was known for his speed and agility on the ice. He recently picked up the sport of pickleball (at the age of 83), again with ease and natural ability, and loved to play with his children and many family members. He never missed a game until he couldn’t play anymore.  Like all of his athletic endeavours, he excelled at the sport and the joy he had playing was demonstrated by his enthusiasm, smile and laughter.

Jack spent most of his career in telecommunications. He began his journey with Bell Telephone, climbing poles and hooking up telephone lines to urban and rural houses and businesses.  He later decided to go to the Eastern Ontario Institute of Technology (EOIT and now Algonquin College) in Ottawa where he graduated with a diploma in Electrical Technology.  Following this he moved to Brockville to work at then, Automatic Electric, to develop and install telephone switching systems. In 1980, he started work at Nortel in Belleville, in their marketing division, where a highlight for him was working to develop the telecommunications systems that were used for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.  He remained at Nortel until he retired.  Throughout his career, Jack was showered with accolades and awards for always going above and beyond in his job.  Always the team player.

Jack was an easy laugher and made others laugh with his quick-witted sense of humour.  Jack was a man who treated everyone as an equal and never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was always there to give a hand to, and lift up anyone who needed help, no matter what their station in life. He was the epitome of human kindness. He was known in the Riverbend Community in which he and Dianne have lived for 22 years, as “Gentleman Jack.”  At Riverbend, Jack was never spare of words of love and respect for all of the friends with whom he shared so many cherished times, at the course, in the club house, or just visiting.

The family will have a closed private celebration to honour his life, his love and devotion to his family, neighbours, and all whom he encountered. The family offers their deepest appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff at the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, the University Hospital, and Parkwood Institute Palliative Care Unit.

In lieu of flowers the family would invite anyone to make a donation to the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario N6A 5W9 in his memory.

ELLIOTT-MADILL FUNERAL HOME, Mount Brydges entrusted with arrangements. 

Online condolences amd donations are available through www.elliottmadill.com