Jack Thomas Pottle

A Denver Life Jack Thomas Pottle, the son of Thomas and Catherine Farrow Pottle, was born July 2, 1924 in Burnham, Missouri. He moved to Denver at age three'""except for his military service, he would spend the next eighty years in the city. He grew up in north Denver's Sunnyside neighborhood, attending Columbian and Beach Court Elementary Schools and Skinner Junior High. Jack was graduated from North High School in 1942. From an early age, Jack evidenced a passion for education. His father was a shoe cobbler, with only an eighth grade education. However, his next door neighbor was a Princeton grad ('the first educated man I knew'), who mentored him and inspired his love of learning. Following his high school graduation, Jack attended the University of Denver before entering the Army Air Corps at Fort Logan, Colorado in 1943. He served for the next two and a half years in the Eighth Air Force, ultimately as a Flight Engineer and Turret Gunner with a B-24 crew stationed in Bethel, England. Jack was injured in combat on April 7, 1945 on a mission over Dunneburg, Germany; he belatedly received his Purple Heart at the age of 82. He managed to be in London on VE Day'""by 'overstaying' a weekend pass. Jack was mustered out of the military in December 1945 at Lowry Field. Jack returned to the University of Denver after the war, graduating in 1949 with a BA in History and an MA in Education. On June 20, 1948, he married Rita Whelan in a union that would last 59 years (not counting their six year courtship!) Jack and Rita had three children, Cathy, Connie and Jack, Jr., and six grand children. In 1950, Jack began a 34 year career dedicated to educating Denver's children. He taught for over a decade at Grant Junior High School where he served as a role model and mentor for his students, particularly those who attended the nearby Colorado State Home. Many of his students continued to visit him for the next twenty years and even invited him to their school reunions. Jack went on to hold a number of administrative positions with the Denver Public Schools (DPS) including Social Studies Supervisor, Director of Curriculum Development and Executive Director of Instructional Services. In 1966, he coauthored Colorado Citizen, which became the standard 9th grade civics textbook. Even following his 1984 retirement, Jack remained actively involved with the DPS and the education of Denver's children. He served for many years on the board of the DPS Credit Union, including one term as chairman. He also served on the board of the DPS Retired Employees Association and, while there, co-founded the Retired Employees' Scholarship Fund enabling numerous deserving DPS students to attend college. Outside the DPS, Jack loved gardening (with a special passion for the perfect home grown tomato!), a well crafted beer, fishing the South Platte and reading both of Denver's daily newspapers. He never quite got over the Post moving to morning publication'""somehow he still read it late in the day because it was, after all, the 'afternoon paper.' And then there were his beloved Chicago Cubs, a team he followed closely in the papers and on television. He enjoyed the Rockies as well, sharing season tickets and a game day ritual with friends. It began with lunch or an early dinner at the Chop House (including mashed potatoes!), a walk past 'his' brick in front of the stadium and arrival at his Coors Field seat prior to the start of batting practice. When the Rockies played his Cubs, however, there was no question where Jack's true loyalties lay! Jack passed away on October 14 after a lengthy illness and will be buried with military honors at Fort Logan National Cemetery. He is survived by his wife Rita, his sister Mildred Fentress, his children Cathy Kawano (Ray) and Jack Pottle (Judy), both of Aurora, Colorado, Connie Pottle of Columbus, Ohio and six grandchildren'""Sarah Schultz, Chris and Jon Kawano and Bill, Betsy and Curtis Pottle. Jack T. Pottle, 83, of Denver. Beloved Husband of Rita (Whelan). Father of Cathy (Ray) Kawano, Connie Pottle and Jack (Judy) Pottle. Grandfather of Sarah, Chris, Jon, Bill, Betsy & Curtis. Brother of Mildred Fentress. Also survived by numerous other relatives & friends. Memorial Service Sunday, 2:00 PM, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Services to conclude at the chapel. Committal Monday, 11:00 AM, Ft. Logan National Cemetery. Donations suggested to Denver Public Schools Retired Employees Association Scholarship Foundation, 1781 South Valentine Way, Lakewood, CO 80228-3944.