Salvatore Jack Magri's Obituary
Jack Magri, a long-time resident of Deer Island, Florida and avid wooden boat collector, died August 28th unexpectedly in his home at the age of 81.
Jack is survived by his children, Lauren Benz and Scott Magri, his son-in-law, Brad Benz and his grandchildren, Sophia and Tanner Benz. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Elizabeth in 2015.
Jack was born on July 6, 1937 in Passaic, New Jersey to Marion (Fay) and Salvatore John Magri. He graduated from Rutherford High School in 1955. Graduating from Syracuse University in 1959, Jack succeeded in designing and patenting the first-ever jetski watercraft.
In 1960, Jack married Diane Lauster and the two were among the first 500 under President Kennedy to join the Peace Corps and served in Somalia and Nigeria. They moved to California and lived in Sunnyvale where Jack went on to receive a Masters Degree from Stanford University in Design Engineering and worked for Hewlett Packard from 1968-1993.
In 1982, Jack married Elizabeth Hale and lived in Mountain View, CA, Lake George, NY, Moultonboro, NH and settled in Deer Island, FL. His loving partnership with Elizabeth and their shared passion for classic wooden boats brought him joy every day until the end of his life. He was a member of the Antique and Classic Boat Society for 25 years, most recently the Sunnyland Chapter.
Jack was a devoted father and grandfather, a loving husband and loyal friend. His endless stories of adventure were constant entertainment and his warm smile left an indelible impression on everyone he met. He will be missed.
At Jack’s request, the family with hold a private ceremony in his remembrance.
Any condolences or memories can be sent to his family at Benz, 9030 Bitner Ranch Rd, Park City, UT 84098.
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