Obituary Overview
In Loving Memory
Born Dec 2, 2002 and passed away tragically August 18, 2018 at 15 years old in Toronto. Beloved son, brother
and grandson, leaves Mom, Susan, Dad, Steve and siblings Finn and Stella, as well as dear Grandparents, stepfamily cousins, teachers, and friends from all across the GTA.
Born with the longest black eyelashes, he was the most beautiful child his parents had ever seen. Taller than the rest of his friends at every age, 6ft 3 at only 15, he was our giant in stature and in spirit. Jack had the most beautiful head of brown curls, his trademark when his hair was long, that he playfully attributed to his Trinidadian grandfather! His hair was the source of many inside jokes, from his “hockey-hair” look to the “man-bun” style that was his most current favourite!
Jack was witty and charming, so polite, and could light up the room with his playful sense of humour. His eye sight was perfect, yet was always wearing other people’s glasses! No one is ever proud to share their
passport photo – no one but Jack that is.
His friends, perhaps playing up Jack’s quirky sense of humour, framed it and featured it prominently at the site of the sidewalk memorial they created! (Thank you to all his friends for that beautiful tribute, which means so much to the
family.)
Jack spoke fluent French, having attended a francophone school (SMDY) until Grade 6. Throughout Elementary school, Jack was a high achieving honour roll student. He played on several athletic teams throughout his life (baseball, basketball, swimming, hockey), but his greatest passion was music. Gifted at the piano, he won many competitions over the years at the Davenport Music Festival. At OLP, he picked up the bass clarinet quickly, and later went to Redmond and was accepted into the specialized music program for band. He just had just finished Grade 10 at Iona. Jack was a deeply talented musician whose gifts knew no bounds. Often seen with ear buds in his ears, his influences and tastes were mature and impressive, just like Jack…. everything from Rush, to Cat Stevens, to Hip Hop and Rap… Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” was his favourite!
But Jack was most known as having a special gift for being there for others. He was thoughtful, sensitive, loyal, and so very protective and caring of his friends, of which he had so many. But by far, his two favourite people on this
Earth were his little siblings, to whom he was completely devoted. At 5 years old, Jack walked his baby brother off
the school bus to his JK class every day, unpacked Finn’s backpack, gave him his stuffy and hugged him for as long as it took for Finn to stop crying and be ok. Jack did that for months without prompting, and without us knowing. He was late for his own class every day, but the teachers let it happen because they were so moved, seeing the beautiful love he had for his brother who needed him. That was Jack. And that same heart was unchanged in his teenage years as the big brother who gelled Stella’s hair and went to every synchro competition to cheer her on. On his last day, he hugged her goodbye at the door, and when she didn’t want to let go, he told her he loved her and teased “I’m only going to be gone an hour!”
We have lost our beautiful boy who was our sun and moon. Sweet Jack…. out of all the boys and girls out there in the world, how did we get to be so lucky to have you as our son and brother? We are devastated that our angel has gone, but his legacy will live on in our hearts, and in a bursary that all are invited to support (in lieu of flowers) in Jack’s name, aimed at sending kids with financial difficulties to his favourite camp (Onondaga in Haliburton.) He would have loved that idea. www.gofundme.com/jack-meldrum-memorial-bursary
Jack has been cremated and the family wishes to invite everyone whose life he touched on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 to the Old Mill (Room “Guildhall,” at the 3rd floor entrance) Etobicoke. Please feel free to drop by anytime between 3-6 pm: short speeches will be at 5 p.m. We encourage friends and family wishing to share a few favourite stories of Jack at the memorial to contact the family ahead of time. Media are asked to respect the family’s privacy and not attend.
Thank you to Toronto Homicide, St Mike’s Hospital, paramedics, bystanders, funeral staff, and especially any witnesses who have come forward, for their love, caring and bravery. Jack was truly a lucky boy to be cared for by all of you, and we are so grateful that you were there when he needed you, at a time when we would have given anything to protect him.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Jack Meldrum 2018.
Décès pour la Ville: Toronto, Province: Ontario
