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Johannessen, John W. ‘Jack’, age 67, of Teaneck, passed away December 20, 2015. Beloved son of the late John E. and Norma (NEE: Wilson). Devoted brother of Lynne and husband Jim Saunders of Williamsburg, VA. Jack was a Real Estate Broker Associate with Gilsenan and Company in Ridgewood for 15 years.
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Marion Platt
Jack and I became friends during junior high and that friendship continued through our high school years. He was an incredibly kind person with an engaging personality. We had a group of friends that did everything together including a lot of adolescent mischief that got us in trouble more than once. Some of you reading this will remember those days (and nights). We were a group of girls and boys who just hung out together and enjoyed each others' company. Jack was, of course, the leader and, often, the instigator.
Jack was very much a free spirit who loved music. He started more than one garage band culminating in the Country Gentlemen. He never made it to stardom as far as I know but those of us who knew him best still think of him as a shining star- a wonderfully fun, creative rogue in his own right. With him, I experienced life a bit on the edge and am grateful for every one of those encounters. Thank you Jack.
Bob Janis
Jack was one of my dearest friends for my last couple of years at NCHS. We made fun, music and great devil-may-care times together. He had a joy for life unequaled and lent me his sense of irreverent humor that I carry still. Somewhere in a box of old cassette tapes I have his voice on a goofy recording we made using an early technology "echo chamber" box he had borrowed. It is hilarious. One of my life's regrets is losing touch with him after school. Tried often over recent years with the internet's help but could not locate him. Hearing of his passing made me recall a saying I once heard. "The clouds hang heavy without you".
This is a recording of "Hollow Woman" that the Country Gentlemen including Jack made for CBS Records. I recall, (an unsafe phrase at my, {our}, age...), that the band was Jack, Chris Goldmark, Steve Weinert and John Forlivio.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bzrpkiu02RuBM0tQR0JRWE1lUUk
Sandy Harlow
Marion Platt and Lynne Saunders provided me with this brief article and photo from the 12/9/65 New Canaan Advertiser about Jack and his band The Country Gentlemen.
Susan Soltis (Fixary)
What a wonderful walk down memory lane. There's something about hearing a voice that really touches the heart.
Mark Rearick
Quite a trip indeed !!