Jack Wesley Curran, 88, died January 8, 2017 at Sunrise Assisted Living of Mercer Island.

He is survived by his sons Scott and Michael, his daughters Patti, Shannon, and Amy, his sister Cherie, 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Jack was preceded in death by his wife Jody, his eldest daughter Mary Kay and his sister Pat.

Jack was born in Spokane, Washington, July 11, 1928, to James Wesley Curran and Marguerita Chasse.

He spent his early years in Spokane in challenging times when food on the table was no sure thing, eventually sent to Montana to live with relatives. After a few years he moved back to Spokane to live with his grandmother and father.

Jack enrolled at Gonzaga High School where he excelled in sports of all kinds, playing football, baseball, and basketball. As a senior he was the ace pitcher, an All-City basketball player and quarterback on the football team. In those years when Gonzaga High School was next door to Gonzaga University, it was an easy decision for GU to offer Jack a scholarship, moving from an outstanding three-sport prep career to collegiate competition.

In the first of four varsity basketball seasons at Gonzaga University, Jack was part of the “G-Whiz Kids” of 1946-1950, a team that built a 20-9 record his first season. Over his four years the team won 79 games and played in the NAIA Tournament, the National Catholic Invitational and the Los Angeles Invitational where Jack was chosen all-tournament.

He pitched four varsity baseball seasons highlighted by his perfect game against the University of Montana.

One spring the tennis team was short a player so they grabbed Jack and convinced him to join the team, which lead to a tennis letter. Jack pitched one season for the Spokane Indians before being called to military service.

Jack was inducted to the Gonzaga University Hall of Fame in 1991.

Jack married Jody Rundstrom in December of 1950 and for the next decade they would move over 10 times as he taught and coached high school sports throughout Eastern Washington.

Eventually finding a sales job, Jack and Jody settled down on Mercer Island in the early 1960s, where he spent the last 50 years of his life raising a family, playing golf, and spending summers at Priest Lake with is family.

Jack always appreciated the care given to him by his extended relatives during his early years, the education and athletic opportunity he received from Gonzaga University, and his wife Jody of nearly 50 years.

Please contact jmcurr@gmail.com for service information, to be held on January 28th.

“Now you are an adult, my part in your life will gradually fade away, the Curran tradition will live on”.