John Richard Sayre

John R. (Jack) Sayre was born September 22, 1932 in Rochester, NY, the 4th of 5 children to Paul and Margaret Reddy Sayre. Jack spent his early years as a student at Holy Rosary School and Aquinas Institute in Rochester, NY where many of his lifelong friendships began in the 10th ward neighborhood of Rochester. Jack would go on to St. John Fisher College where he would meet his future bride, Margaret Schumacher whom he married in 1958.

Jack and Margaret were residents of Pittsford, NY prior to their move with IBM to Dallas, TX. Jack’s career with IBM was a long and successful one. One of his proudest accomplishments was selling the very first UPC scanner to the Wegmans grocery chain headquartered in Rochester, NY. No doubt the automated scanner revolutionized the grocery industry and Jack was proud to have played his part! Jack would go on to achieve many other career goals and receive many awards and distinctions– many of these awards allowed Margaret and him to travel all over the world to exotic locales such as Fiji, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe and their all- time favorite, Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Jack and Margaret and family would vacation there often and understood its Indian name quite literally to be the “chosen place”. All the Sayres were lucky enough to gather in Canandaigua one last time before Margaret’s death in 2015.

Jack and Margaret relocated to Dallas in 1981 and quickly learned to love the Lone Star State, often hosting out of town friends and relatives for Cowboy games, family weddings and Cotton Bowl events. Jack was a man of style, substance and grace. Nicknamed “Razor” in college, Jack had a reputation for being a sharp dressed man, and never, ever did he disappoint! A clothes horse on and off the golf course, Jack was known for his quick wit, preppy pants and fancy shoes. Late in life, his stylish round, tortoise shell glasses were his trademark. Jack had interests ranging from sports to good old fashioned raucous poker games, Notre Dame football, the Texas Rangers, politics, patriotic music, crossword puzzles and travel. His unconditional love for his beloved Margaret and his children and grandchildren knew no bounds. After Margaret’s death, Jack lived a simpler, more quiet life longing to be reunited with Margaret while surrounded by his children who loved him and will miss him dearly. Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years Margaret, his parents, brothers Paul and Donald, and daughter Patricia. He is survived by his children Kevin Sayre and wife Peggy, Katherine Forner and husband Michael, Mary Christine Sayre, Karen Hettrick and husband Greg; six grandchildren Andrew, Elizabeth and Jackson Forner, and Kathleen, George, and John (Jack) Hettrick. He is also survived by his sister Cecelia Sayre of Rochester, NY and his dearest younger brother, Robert Sayre (Fritz) and many in-laws and nieces and nephews. The family would like to express their gratitude to Faith Presbyterian Hospice of Dallas and the T Boone Pickens Center for the grace and dignity shown to him during the final stages of his life.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 7 at 10am at Calvary Hill 3235 Lombardy Lane Dallas, TX. Rosary preceding funeral mass at 930am. Entombment to follow the funeral mass.