Born and raised in Franklin, Virginia, Jack was the eldest son of Mildred Caroline Minton and Joseph M. Minton, Sr. Jack spoke fondly of his boyhood in Virginia and was a dutiful son and older brother. An intellect who wore his erudition humbly, Jack graduated with honors from the University of Virginia where he majored in history and was awarded the honor of living on “The Lawn” his senior year. Jack obtained Master’s Degrees in both Medieval History and Rehabilitation Counseling from Michigan State University. Jack served his country as a Navy cryptographer in Northern Ireland during Vietnam. After his return, Jack met Nancy Spates, with whom he celebrated 41 years of marriage and partnership in December.
Jack believed every person deserves dignity and served adults with disabilities with competence and compassion over his 38-year career with CEI Community Mental Health-Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled.
In retirement, Jack traveled and completed numerous Road Scholar international and domestic trips and was anticipating another hiking trip at the time of his death. He also enjoyed volunteering, especially driving for The Davies Project. Jack joyfully embraced his promotion to “Papa” of Kiran James Kapadia and Luca Joseph Kapadia, his cherished grandsons, even renting an apartment in Chicago and serving as Kiran’s regular “nanny” for the earliest years of Kiran’s life. Jack spent part of the day before his death playing backyard soccer with Kiran and giving piggyback rides to Luca.
Jack will be remembered by all who knew him for his gentle nature, intellect and easy smile. Jack particularly relished sunny days spent kayaking, strong coffee, long beach walks, a good mystery, opera, and classical music. Jack was an enthusiastic singer and longtime member of the All Saints choir, MSU Chorale Union and DePaul Chorus. An excellent “by ear” pianist, his family will miss his cozy Christmas Eve piano performances.
In addition to his grandsons, Jack’s legacy lives on in his daughters, Sarah Kapadia, of Highland Park, Illinois, and Madeleine Minton, of Chicago. Jack supported his daughters with pride, understanding, and an unconditional love he never missed an opportunity to express. Also surviving Jack are his brother and friend, Fred Minton (Kendall), of Irvington, Virginia, with whom he had many adventures in both boyhood and adulthood, and his treasured sons-in-law, Kanhai Kapadia and Jaret Glazer. Jack will be missed by his many friends, including his friend of over 50 years, Marv Studinger.
A memorial service and interment will be held Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EST at All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbott Road, East Lansing, Michigan. The family will receive visitors at 1:30 p.m. and a reception will follow the service. For those unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed on the All Saints YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/c/AllSaintsEpiscopalChurchEastLansingMI).
In lieu of flowers, Jack’s family asks you to remember Jack when you hear a beautiful piece of music or eat a good strawberry shortcake, one of his favorite birthday desserts. Donations in thanksgiving for Jack’s life may be made to The Davies Project (www.thedaviesproject.org) or The MSU Choral Society (www.choralsociety.music.msu.edu).
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