It is with much sadness that the family of John (Jack) Dennis Sinclair announce his passing after a courageous battle with Alzheimers at the age of 83 on Friday, March 27, 2020.
Jack was born on May 2, 1936 in Toronto, Ontario to Gladys and Gordon Sinclair. He had two brothers, Gordon Jr and Donald and one sister Jean, who he loved dearly. He married the love of his life Patricia Thomas on September 16, 1961 and had 3 children, Jennifer, Michael and Stephen. Jack was a loving, generous and thoughtful husband, father and grandfather. His grandchildren Timothy, Carter, Kyle, Thomas, Gabriella and Kohen loved him endlessly and will miss his stories and incredible life lessons. He was also deeply loved by his daughter-in-laws Donna and Daina, who he welcomed and loved from the moment he met them.
Jack was a creative, innovative man who always had the best technology. His passion was film and video production, photography and travel. As a young man, Jack was one of the early pioneers in the Toronto film production scene which included the development of the green screen which is widely used to this day. Jack also co-built Motion Picture Video Company, and worked in post-production at CFTO and CBC. He was a proud Canadian who traveled all over the world for his work. He executed and designed the network broadcast facility for both the Atlanta and Vancouver Olympics as well as the new CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto. This was an extremely proud moment in his career. Jack always had time for his wife and kids and was the ultimate family man. He was the type of father that would work endless hours yet still manage to be there for hockey games or to take his family on ski trips. The Sinclair's went on many adventures as a family including canoe and camping trips throughout North America, skiing in Blue Mountain and Vermont, and of course, enjoying Muskoka as much as possible. One of Jack’s favourite things was taking his family and guests on “JAX boat” for tours around Muskoka Lakes which always ended at the Gordon Sinclair bridge which he was very proud of. Upon retirement, Pat and Jack lived their dream of travelling together and this was documented in Jack’s many photos and videos. He made many friends in Muskoka, including his and Pat’s best friends Bob and Val Marshall, this friendship has lasted for more than 65 years. Jack is remembered as a great man, husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Due to the current events, Jack will be cremated and a celebration of life will be organized at a later date in Muskoka. The family asks that instead of flowers and gifts you upload memories or photos of Jack to comfort Pat during this extremely difficult time
Daina Gibbons
Posted on: Saturday, April 4, 2020To me Jack was one of the best men I have ever known. When I met Jack and the whole Sinclair family through Stephen, I was so envious of the type of father he was. I feel and still do like I was very lucky to have been part of his family. As his daughter in law, I am so thankful for things he did to help us, including making our wedding video, being there at the hospital when our son was born so early and hosting so many weekends at the cottage. To name only a few.
Jack, thanks for your sensitivity, generosity, advice, and general peaceful composure. I know the last few years were difficult for you, but I feel confident you passed knowing you had the most fulfilling life you could have had.
I hope you enjoy some photos I found, which came from your collection. Love you,
Daina Gibbons
Posted on: Saturday, April 4, 2020Pat and Jack at a party
Daina Gibbons
Posted on: Saturday, April 4, 2020Pat and Jack Christmas
Daina Gibbons
Posted on: Saturday, April 4, 2020Pat, Jack, Val and Bob at chalet
Daina Gibbons
Posted on: Saturday, April 4, 2020Jack and Pat with panda
Daina Gibbons
Posted on: Saturday, April 4, 2020Jack and GG
Daina Gibbons
Posted on: Saturday, April 4, 2020Jack with camera – his happy place!
Alan Kennedy
Posted on: Monday, April 6, 2020In the summer of 1983 I went to MPV for a job interview with Jack. He hired me on the spot. Working at MPV changed my life and set me up for an amazing career and I have Jack to thank for that. Working for someone who was as intelligent and inventive as Jack was a privilege. He was easy to talk to and always had time for everyone. When we had our MPV reunion a few years ago he wasn’t able to attend and I really hoped to see him so I could thank him for everything he had done for me. Thank you Jack.
Michael Sinclair
Posted on: Saturday, May 2, 2020Happy Birthday to My Amazing Dad! I have struggled with writing this so its taken me a while, it has been so incredibly hard loosing my hero!
MY DAD,
Ever since I was a young boy, I knew MY DAD was someone special. I never had to wonder if MY DAD was going to make one of my hockey games or ski races. All my friends complained about their fathers and how they never showed up or made time for them. This was never a concern for me, when MY DAD was setting up his business and working all day and night, MY DAD would still manage to always make it to my games and not only show up, but volunteer as well.
My brother and I loved playing hockey; not only would MY DAD stay up till 1am flooding the back-yard skating rink, My DAD would also put up boards and set it up like a hockey arena.
I wanted to be in cubs but I was nervous to be on canoe trips and camping trips by myself. MY DAD had a busy schedule being in the film industry but MY DAD still became an assistant scout leader and took us on all of our canoe trips and events.
One year we got a train set for Christmas. Most people would just set up the train on floor not MY DAD. He built us a multi-level, multi-track train table with plaster mountains and tunnels that we operated. We were the most popular kids on the street and that was because of MY DAD!
Most parents want to relax on weekends after a busy week. MY DAD would take us to the cottage and take us out on the lake for hours water-skiing. MY DAD loved taking us on sunset cruises in “JAX BOAT”.
I always wanted to be in film and take pictures (follow in MY DADS footsteps). so when I was about 8 years old and showed an interest in film MY DAD taught me to save money for my first camera and MY DAD built a darkroom in our basement. I remember spending hours developing film and printing pictures with him. MY DAD was always so patient and so knowledgeable!
MY DAD has never worked a regular 40-hour work week, his were more like 80-hour work weeks. But he would still come home on Friday night and drive us all 10 hours to Vermont for ski trips with his brother. MY DAD would then ski all day with us and never complain about being tired, then he would drive the 10 hours home Sunday night and go straight to work for Monday.
When I was in about grade 6, I wanted a new bike. The bike I wanted was in the old Consumer Distributing magazine. I’ll never forget it; it was red and white with a banana seat. I wanted it so bad! I told MY DAD about the bike. MY DAD (who tried to heat the house with wood) said, “Ok Mike I need wood for the winter. I’ll pay you a cent per foot for the wood you collect off our two-acre property.” I really wanted that bike so I set out collecting wood. I worked for about two weeks every day after school and on weekends, I had a huge pile of wood collected. MY DAD came to me one Saturday and said let’s go get your bike you did a great job. MY DAD never measured that amount of wood I cut, he just wanted to teach me about hard work and commitment, and it worked!
When I was about 15, I went to summer camp. The camp was on the Toronto Brigantine’s which was a 72’ square rigger sail boat. We were going to sail 24 hours a day for 7 days from Toronto to Kingston. Neither me nor my parents knew what to expect. One thing MY DAD said to me before I got on the ship was “REMEMBER MIKE IF THINGS GET TOUGH JUST GRIN AND BARE IT” this saying was the saying that has stuck with me my whole life and helped me navigate through some tough times. Within hours of being on the ship we were scrubbing the deck, polishing the brass, cleaning the head ETC. I just kept saying to myself “GRIN AND BARE IT”. At the beginning, the week long sailing trip was HELL. Then I started to like it and after the week when we were done, I was asked to come back for the rest of the summer as a counselor (which I did) and to this day that summer of being on the Playfair is one of my fondest memories.
When I was in grade 8, I wanted a dirt bike. I had been taught many things from MY DAD about hard work and saving money at that point in my life. I learned that if I proved to MY DAD, I could do these things he would not say no. I worked on my paper route and doing odd jobs, I saved and saved. When I knew I had enough money saved to buy the Yamaha YZ 80 I came to MY DAD and said, “Dad I want to buy a dirt bike”. MY DAD said, “Mike show me you can save the money and be responsible and you can have the bike.” I reached into my pocket and took out all the cash I had saved up. MY DAD had a big grin on his face and said. “I can’t say no, let’s go get it!”
MY DAD taught me so many things. How to build things, fix things, save money, grin and bare it, but above all, he taught me the meaning of being an amazing father! There isn’t much that I do or that I am; that wasn’t taught to me by MY DAD but the best gift My DAD gave me was the gift of knowing what an amazing dad was and how to be an amazing dad. It’s hard to follow in MY DADS footsteps but If I’m half the man and father MY DAD was, I’ll be happy!
MY DAD was and is my role model, my best friend, my teacher and MY HERO.
I love and will always love you dad!
Thanks for being MY DAD.
XOXO
Donna Sinclair
Posted on: Saturday, May 2, 2020Happy Heavenly Birthday Jack 💔💔You will forever live on through all the people that you have left a mark on with your incredible heart and amazing soul. I am so blessed to have married your absolute clone, thank you for your endless lessons – you have taught him well. I will cherish the memories of our visits and the endless conversations we would have about family and life. I have never met a man that documented more than you have. Thank you for leaving us with all these previous memories to explore, our children will now get a glimpse of the incredible man you were. Thank you for always making me feel so loved and valued, you were an extraordinary man and an incredibly loving father-in-law. I will love you always & will forever carry your love in my heart ❤️❤️