John Morrison

John H. Jack Morrison, devoted family man, avid sailor and pilot, gadgeteer supreme, and material handling maven, passed away on November 26, 2010. Jack is survived by his wife, the former Nancy Olson; children Betsy Marcotte Lloyd Feinberg of Great Falls, Virginia, John A. Jay Morrison of Kingman, Arizona, and Virginia Ginny Morrison Daniel Anker of Kirtland, Ohio; grandchildren, Michael Morrison Marcotte of Washington, DC, and Avery Claire Morrison Glassman of Kirtland and Shaker Heights, Ohio. He also has a brother, H. Donald Morrison in Florida. Born on May 18, 1928 to Scottish immigrant parents Elizabeth and Harry Morrison, the course of Jack's future life was set in the seventh grade when he met Nancy Olson. They married in 1949, and she remained the centerpiece of all that followed. After graduating from Brush High School in 1946 and attending Albion College in Michigan, Jack joined The Morrison Company, a material handling equipment business, founded by his father in 1929, which sold, rented, installed, and created specialized equipment to serve manufacturing industry needs. Powered by his sharp intelligence and his engineering of customized lift products, including the "O-lift" for tires and the "Billet Grab" for heavy steel ingots, Jack rose to become president in 1978 when his father was elevated to chairman of the board. Jack was a man of many skills and wide interests. Jack and Nancy loved to travel, visiting the Panama Canal, Greece, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Holland, and many places in the United States and Canada. One of their favorite spots was on Lock #7 of the Welland Canal that runs between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Jack took his whole family on a six-week camping trip around the western states, and piloted sailing adventures in the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, the Great Lakes, the Sea of Cortez and Puget Sound. The family spent many summers at Ipperwash Beach on Lake Huron in Ontario. Although a licensed pilot, a skilled sailor, a master radio control model airplane hobbyist, .and a ready adventurer, Jack was just as happy to direct his focus to domestic projects, including many upgrades and improvements, such as the addition of a large-scale brick patio, stone wall, and deck, all naturalized into the landscape of their garden, behind Jack and Nancy's family homes in Shaker Heights. He always had some project going, though his greatest pleasure was spending time with family and friends, especially with Nancy. A life-long and suffering Cleveland sports fan, Jack was up to speed on all Browns and Indians activities throughout his life. A committed civic-minded patriot, Jack was a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland for many years, serving, along with other leadership roles, as its President. In that capacity he proudly chauffeured former president George H. W. Bush to a local meeting. He was also a member of the Seaman's Service of the Port of Cleveland, and a passionate docent on the William G. Mather Steamship Museum. A veritable encyclopedia of Great Lakes shipping facts and lore, he was a fixture on the ship, happily leading groups on guided tours for many years. A member of the congregation at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Jack taught Sunday school to 6th graders as a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio. In 2004, Jack and Nancy moved to Judson Retirement Community where he found many great friends in residents, staff and volunteers. The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to The William G. Mather Museum, c/o The Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114. Memorial Services will be held Monday, December 27th at 4 PM in the Auditorium of Judson Park, entrance on 1801 Chestnut Hills Drive. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, FROM 3-6 PM.


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