Jack Patterson dies at 81

Jack Patterson, 81, on the Beacon Journal sports staff for 38 years and renown for his knowledge, particularly when it came to horse racing, died Saturday of respiratory failure. He lived in Munroe Falls.

The bespectacled Jack was the quiet type who let his intelligence speak for itself.

His wife, Barbara Ann Patterson, 78, who died March 17, 2009, and Jack were classmates at Warren G. Harding High School and dated after Jack returned from military service in 1951. They were married in 1954 and raised five children -- sons John of Cuyahoga Falls and Mike of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughters Patricia of San Jose, California, Kathy of North Canton and Valerie of Tallmadge -- and had 11 grandchildren.

Barbara and Jack moved to the Akron area in 1955.

After retirement, Jack often would be in Chapel Hill Mall, doing his daily walking. He loved to play golf.

Jack wrote “Inside Bowling” with pro bowler Don Johnson and also co-authored "Sign 'Em Up, Bucky," about sports agent and Akron native Bucky Woy.

Jack and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derbys and, once a year, went to Las Vegas to bet on the horses in the casinos.

In Marilyn Miller's BJ story on Jack's passing, former colleagues Ray Yanucci, Sheldon Ocker, Ralph Paulk and Tom Gaffney paid tribute.

Click on the headline to read Marilyn's article about Jack.