John Clarence “Jack” Evans, 90, died peacefully in Essex, on Jan. 18, 2016, following a life notable for great business acumen and integrity, dedication and service to higher education, public policy, the arts and his community, and devotion to his family, friends and country. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Valerie (Hunt) Evans.
Jack grew up in Glen Ridge, N.J., was a graduate of Glen Ridge High School and Yale University, Class of 1947, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 and again, with the Office of Naval Intelligence, from 1951 to 1953.
Jack’s professional life began in 1947 with the Prudential Insurance Co. of America. In 1956, he joined the International Finance Corporation, the newly established private sector arm of the World Bank, encouraging and advising investment in developing countries, and he and Val moved from New York City to Washington, D.C. In 1960, they moved again to London where Jack joined Philip Hill Higginson, Erlangers (later Hill Samuel) as executive director. Following many happy years in London, Jack and Val returned to New York where Jack joined Morgan Stanley & Co. He remained associated with Morgan Stanley from 1967 until his retirement, serving as general partner and managing director and, from 1971 to 1973, as CEO of Morgan et Cie International in Paris.
Jack was a tireless participant in community and civic affairs and shared his wisdom and foresight as chairman of the boards of Connecticut College, the National Theatre of the Deaf and High Hopes Therapeutic Riding. For more than 34 years, he served as a director of the Henry Luce Foundation. Jack also served as a director of the Dia Art Foundation, the New York Policy Board, Cities-in-Schools, LTV Corporation, the Fishers Island Development, Electric and Telephone Companies, as a commissioner of the Fishers Island Ferry District, a member of the organizing committee of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, and an honorary trustee of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.
He was also a member of a number of professional and other organizations including the Council on Foreign Relations, the New York Yacht Club and The Pilgrims.
Jack was a Renaissance man – scientist, engineer, historian, economist, gardener, painter, musician and sailor, a constant reader and brilliant writer. His travels and experiences were broad and his curiosity, love and retention of learning were limitless.
He is survived and profoundly missed by his children, Wendy (Evans) Knight of Old Lyme, Nancy (Evans) Lloyd and her partner, Charles J. Mahoney, of Providence, R.I. and John C.L. Evans and his wife, Dana, of Lyme; and by his grandchildren, Emily Knight, Sarah and John Davis Lloyd and Phoebe and Archer Evans.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Dean L. Evans and David M. Evans.
Jack’s family wishes to thank Dr. Peter S. Dixon, the staff of the Essex Meadows Health Center, Pauline Cavallaro and Izabela Piotrowska for their extraordinary and loving care.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 pm Saturday, March 5, 2016, at the First Congregational Church in Old Lyme. A private burial will take place on Fishers Island, N.Y. in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charitable organization of your choice in memory of John C. Evans. Please request that notification be sent to P.O. Box 468, Old Lyme, CT 06371.
Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home in Old Lyme, is handling the arrangements.
Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for tributes, direction, details and suggested donations.
Published in The Day on January 31, 2016
