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Jack Harry Amundsen died peacefully at his home in assisted living in Vero Beach Florida on November 4, 2024, at the age of 90. Jack was an amazing, thoughtful, intelligent man who had a rich and rewarding life. In his life, he was many things – an Air Force pilot, physics teacher, author, instrument-rated pilot, flying instructor, construction worker, private detective, taxi driver, nurse, hotel manager, farmer, tennis player, water skier, father, grandfather, and husband. He was a wonderful and supportive father to his children. He was also a wonderful grandfather, helping his grandsons learn tennis, math, and physics.

Jack was born in Dowagiac Michigan, to Lydia & Harry Amundsen, and went to Dowagiac High School. One of his good friends growing up in Michigan was Max Allen. They played a lot of tennis together and were the force of the Dowagiac high school tennis team.

In 1952, he started at University of Miami and played tennis for them; after a year he moved to the University of Michigan. He went into the Air Force before completing school – his two years there had a big impact on his life, and he often told fascinating stories of training and flying as an Air Force pilot. Jack came back to University of Michigan and got his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

He met Ann Urschel in a psychology course at U of M, and they married. After several years of work at Wayne State, teaching, and having a daughter, Ruth, they decided to travel Europe for a year and a half, staying in Spain for a year. After they came back from Europe they live in Ann Arbor, and he taught at Highland Park Community College. In 1970 Jack and Ann divorced. He went back to University of Michigan and got his master’s degree at U of M in Philosophy.

After that he started teaching at Washtenaw Community College (WCC), where he worked for 20 years.

Overall, Jack dedicated much of his life to teaching – the largest part of his life, about 30 years, was devoted to teaching college physics, among other subjects, at Washtenaw Community College, Wayne State, Oakland, and Highland Park. That has been his biggest impact on the world – getting students over an entire generation to think more deeply about physics, relativity, and philosophy.

While in Ann Arbor Jack was well known in the tennis community and won the tennis tournament for the over-40’s division when he was 51. Tennis was always a big part of his life.

He met and married Lauren Tracey, and they had a son Ryan in 1978. They lived in a house in Ann Arbor. Jack and Lauren managed a hotel together in Florida for several seasons. Lauren and Jack divorced when Ryan was still young.

While in Ann Arbor, he started dating Lois Work. In 1993 he retired from WCC and soon after that he moved to the Bay Tree community in Vero Beach Florida, with Lois.

They lived there together for nearly 30 years, and had many happy times together, going on trips and out to events. In 2022 Jack moved to assisted living in Vero Beach, due to health issues.

Jack is survived by his daughter Ruth, son Ryan, grandsons Christopher, Patrick, and Brian, and long time companion Lois Work.

The family is grieving privately at home; there will not be a formal service. A collection of photos from Jack’s life can be seen here: https://tinyurl.com/JackAObit.