John "Jack" Harvey Finnbogason

We are sad to announce the death of John (Jack) Harvey Finnbogason, who passed away on Apr 30, 2024. Jack will be deeply missed by his brother Donald (Lucille), sister Shirley-Anne, daughters Loa (Alan) and Signe (Lea-Anne), and grandsons Atli and Rory. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Marsha.

Jack was born in 1942 to his parents Samson and Ethel and grew up in Bissett, Manitoba. Jack was a gifted student who earned his Master's degree in just one year from the University of Toronto. After a few years of teaching high school, he found his calling at Seneca College as an English professor (1961-1971), where he was elected as president of the Seneca College Faculty Union (1970-71), foreshadowing his educational leadership that was to come. It was in those early years that he met and fell in love with Marsha.

Jack and Marsha married in 1971 and packed up everything they owned to start their new lives in BC. Jack had been hired to teach English at the newly formed Douglas College. He would later learn to regret calling the cross country drive and sleeping in their car their 'honeymoon'. He would also learn it had been unwise to buy their first house by himself as a 'surprise' for his new bride. Despite the rocky start, they settled in and he launched what would be a 33 year career at Douglas/Kwantlen College, finishing his last 5 years as Dean of Humanities.

Jack and Marsha welcomed their daughters Loa and Signe in 1977 and 1978. While parenting young children and working a full-time job would be enough for some, Jack continued to seek new ways he could be of service; if there was an educational committee somewhere, he was probably on it or leading it. In 1983-85 he was the elected president of CIEA, where he joined with the BCTF, CUPE, and the BCGEU to form a solidarity alliance which is still in place today. He went on to serve consecutive terms with the Surrey School Board in 1987-1993, was the president of the BC School Trustees Association in 1992-1993, and served on TechBC's Board of Governors (97-02) including as vice-chair in 2002. In 1994, he was asked by the provincial government to establish the BC Public Schools Employers Association, which he saw through to their inaugural convention.

As if he wasn't busy enough, he also became an author. During his years teaching English at Kwantlen, he was frustrated by needing to use American publications in order to help students navigate the challenging world of grammar, citations, and writing. Always ready to tackle a problem, Jack, along with his good friend and colleague Al Valleau, set about writing and publishing A Canadian Writer's Guide, later followed by The Nelson Introduction to Literature as well as pocket guides and student workbooks. These became staple texts across Canada and a significant source of pride for Jack.

In addition to his work life, Jack was a talented and passionate curler, representing BC at the national senior championships in both 1997 and 1998, and at the national masters championships in 2008, 2009, and 2012. In 2008 his team won the national title; a highlight of his curling career.

Jack will be remembered for his dry wit, his insatiable curiosity, and his incredibly kind and generous spirit. An outgoing soul, he touched the lives of thousands of students and innumerable colleagues, neighbours, friends, and family. He was a true student of life and loved the written word. "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived" (Thoreau).

His family will honour Jack with a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, May 7, from 4-7pm at the Washington Avenue Grill. We invite friends to join us in honouring his life. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jack may be made to the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation.

For all who knew him, we are richer for it.