ABC Wednesday - J is for Jack Jones

Did you know that "Jack Jones" is a Cockney rhyming slang for saying that you are on your own?

Q: "Who are you with?"
A: "I'm on my Jack Jones man - nuttin' going on."

OR
A: "I was sat there on my Jack Jones, like a right billy no mates" (another British slang for being abandoned by friends.)

Jack Jones is also a famous American singer, born in 1938, who has been acclaimed by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, and Tony Bennett. When I was a kid, Jack Jones was very well known and my Dad would often joke about how "he" was famous.

That's because my Dad was Jack Jones. (not the singer, though.)

My Dad wasn't famous for his singing, but he was famous in his own way. When he was only 11 years old, he started playing soccer. He was actually kicked out of the Salvation Army because he chose to play soccer on Sundays instead of going to church. But he didn't care then.
Dad became so famous in Vancouver that he was inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. He had not only been an athlete that the Vancouver Sun would frequently write about during his time playing the sport, but also he went on to be a linesman, referee, and Commissioner of Soccer for the province. In the early 40's, anyone who knew anything about sports knew who Jack Jones was.
Dad had a good life, marrying my mother in 1943 a month after turning 22 years old. He then went on to serve in the RCAF during WW2 as a pilot and flight instructor. After the war, he returned to settle down to family life and worked until retirement for the telephone company. He loved his family and had three daughters (of whom I'm the middle one), four grandchildren (2 boys and 2 girls), and one great-grandson (my daughter's son). During his life he loved to play golf and watch hockey, travel, and play bridge with lots of their friends.
He passed away September 21st of last year, so as the letter J came up for this week, I thought I'd post a few photos of my own personal famous Jack Jones.

Age 19

RCAF during WW2, age 23

Banff 1953 (age 32)

At my wedding reception 1973 (age 52)

With my mother in Spain circa 1976 (age 55)

Snuggling with Jamie circa 1985 (age 64)

Hugging Jaclyn circa 1989 (age 67)

With great-grandson Noah 2004 (age 83)

Jack Jones

(January 18, 1921 - September 21, 2007)

Have a great week everyone and if you'd like to see more ABCW contributions, go to http://wednesdayabc.blogspot.com/ and read about how you, too, can participate.