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Jack Alexander Adelaar

July 2, 1944-October 22, 2014
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Mayor Jack Adelaar at the Belterra ground breaking ceremony.

Jack was born in Wolverhampton, England during WW II, the first son of Emanuel and Livia Adelaar.  After the war ended, his family moved to Holland before immigrating to Canada in 1951. Living briefly in Montreal, the Adelaars settled in Weymouth, Nova Scotia. Jack attended KCS (Kings College School) in Windsor, Nova Scotia and Kings and Dalhousie University in Halifax for his undergraduate and law degrees.  
Jack met his wife of 45 years, Maryon, while working in Montreal during Expo 67.  They moved to Vancouver where he practiced law for the next forty years.  During that time, Jack and Maryon became very active in the contemporary art scene. Jack was involved with the Western Front, Contemporary Art Society of Vancouver, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery Foundation and Presentation House Gallery.  These were decades of learning, travel and friendship with many artists and collectors from around the world.
Upon retirement Jack moved into the political arena becoming Mayor of Bowen Island where he had resided part time for many years. This was Jack’s dream job! One of the benefits of life on the island was taking up golf at aged 60+. His life changed forever with a cancer diagnosis in 2012.  He faced this challenge with his usual feisty determination. Jack leaves  behind his wife Maryon, sons Alex (Margaret-Jean), Jay(Janet), his precious grandchildren, Payton, Trey, Rio, Angus and Alistair.  From the east coast are his sister Maritza Adams (Jim) and brother Martin Adelaar (Melanie, Samuel and Nadine) and the Backer family. Celebrations of Jack’s life will be held on Bowen Island and in Vancouver.