Obituary of Jack Robert McILVAIN

Jack Robert McIlvain passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2014, after a years-long battle with Parkinson's. He was 75 years old. He was the son of Anne and James McIlvain. Jack's Santa Cruz roots run deep, having been born and raised here. He went to school, worked, and started a small manufacturing company, CARI/Machine, in Santa Cruz County. Mack, as he was sometimes called, went to Santa Cruz High School, and graduated from St. Mary's College, in Moraga, with a degree in business administration. He loved to play guitar. He was self-taught and then taught others. He played jazz and rock professionally during the late 50s, 60s, and 70s. During his rock days, he played with the Andrew Staples band, opening at the Fillmore in San Francisco for many of the old rock groups like Janis Joplin, The Doors, and Jefferson Airplane. He also enjoyed playing solo jazz guitar at small venues, "hiding behind the potted palm". He played with passion and good taste. Jack was a voracious reader, his interests ranging from quantum mechanics, to mathematics, religion, philosophy, Shakespeare and cooking…and everything in between. He also loved Calvin and Hobbes. Jack thoroughly enjoyed listening to good jazz and classical music. Years ago, he spent many hours painting, drawing, and writing poetry. In school he excelled at basketball and football. He had a comic book collection, which he kept up through a subscription at Atlantis Fantasy World. During his life as a young man, he spent some time as a lay monk in a Zen Buddhist Temple. Later in life, he enjoyed the intellectual stimulation of the discussions about Utopia, at the Penny University. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Diane, and their daughter, Angela, of whom he was extraordinarily proud. Thank you for all you taught us about kindness, patience, and generosity, dear Jack. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about so many things. We love you dearly, and will hold you deep in our hearts forever. Services will be held on Friday, January 2, 2015, at 1:00 P.M., at Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz.