ST. PETE BEACH, Fla., and MOUNT DESERT – John “Jack” Jordan Jr., 78, died peacefully May 21, 2011, at his home in St. Pete Beach, Fla. He was born May 17, 1933, in Seal Harbor, son of John E. and Marie (Hallowell) Jordan Sr.
Jack graduated from Mount Desert High School, Class of 1951. After graduation he went on to the University of Maine, then joining the U.S. Navy in 1952, serving in the Korean War. After honorably serving his country for four years, Jack returned home to Seal Harbor where he met and married the love of his life, Eleanor Reynolds from Northeast Harbor. After being married Dec. 13, 1958, they settled in Jacks’ home town of Seal Harbor, where he joined his father and grandfather in the family plumbing and heating business, Everett G. Jordan, Inc. He was a member of Congregational Church, Seal Harbor; Mount Desert Lions Club; American Legion Post No. 103, Northeast Harbor; American Legion PostNo.125 Gulfport, Fla.; Old Timers Club, Seal Harbor; Seal Harbor Village Improvement Society; Republican State Committee and a former town of Mount Desert selectman. Jack went on to serve as a Hancock County Commissioner for 24 years, during part of that time he was appointed to represent the state of Maine for the National Association of Counties. He also served as president of the board of Penobscot Consortium which sponsored CETA, Job Corps Training and Development Center, Bangor. Jack also served on the board of the Acadia Corp., which runs Jordan Pond House and concession shops in Acadia National Park. He was a past potentate of Anah Temple Shrine, being a Shrine member since September 1959. He was a past president of Hancock County Shrine Club, a past master and member of Northeast Harbor Lodge No. 208 AF & AM; Scottish Rite Bodies, Bangor; and Maine Consistory 32nd degree A.A.S.R., Portland; and was a member of Court No. 150 Royal Order of Jesters. Jack very much enjoyed the water and growing up on the coast of Maine owning various sizes of boats throughout his years. Later in his life after retiring from E. G. Jordan, Inc., he and wife, Ellie, traveled from their Mount Desert home on Long Pond, Somesville, to spend winters in Florida on St. Pete Beach, before moving there fulltime in 2006.
Jack is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Eleanor (Reynolds) Jordan; his sons, James E. Jordan and partner, Robin English, of Seal Cove and Ronald D. Jordan of Portland; grandchildren, Jason E. Jordan and fiance, Carrie Cole, of Hancock and Brian J. Jordan of Trenton; sister, Judith Harvel of West Roxbury, Mass.; nieces, Mellissa Harvel of West Roxbury, Mass., and Johanna Harvel of Maryland; and sister, Esther Gorman and husband, William, of Treasure Island, Fla. Jack was predeceased by his parents, John Sr. and Marie; grandparents, Everett and Esther Jordan; and his brother-in-law, Dennis Harvel. The family extends its sincerest thanks to all members of the Intensive Care Unit No. 1 at St. Petersburg General Hospital, all members of the Intensive Care Unit at Largo Medical Center and also all members of Team Orange at SunCoast.
At Jacks request, a late September graveside service will be performed in Seal Harbor with the exact date to be announced. Memorial contributions in Jacks’ memory may be made to Northeast Harbor Ambulance Association, 21 Sea St., Northeast Harbor, ME 04662 or Seal Harbor Village Improvement Society, care of Debra Brown, P.O. Box 171, Seal Harbor, ME 04675 or Anah Temple Shrine, P.O. Box 735, Bangor, ME 04402. For a full online tribute, go to
www.beachmemorial.com.