Former Harvard resident, ‘Jack of many trades’
John “Jack” Pennell, 78, of Cotuit, Mass., and Stonehurst, Nova Scotia, and formerly of Harvard, Mass., died peacefully early on the morning of Oct. 3. He endured a long, slow decline from dementia graciously.
He is survived by his sister, Janet Shepperson; his wife of 53 years, Caroline; his sons and their wives, Mark and Allison, Kurt and Page, and Evan and Carlene; the grandchildren he adored, Cameron, Samuel, Lindsey, Amelia, Cooper, and Aidan; and his dog, Sydney.
Jack was a mechanical engineer (Northeastern 1955) and a “jack of many trades.” He was a lifetime black-and-white photographer, a gearhead, an avid whitewater kayaker and designer and builder of the Urban-Pennell kayak, a potter, and, most recently a blacksmith. He made tools for all his hobbies, often from treasures he found at the dump.
A private gathering to remember Jack will be held later this fall. His ashes will be scattered on the waters of Nova Scotia. Donations in his memory may be sent to Hospice (https://hospicenet.org/html/donations.html or Hospice Donations, 401 Bowling Ave. Suite 51, Nashville, TN 37205-5124).
