John “Jack” Lindsay

John "Jack" Joseph Lindsay, 89, Professor Emeritus at the University of Vermont, a devoted husband, loving father, and passionate outdoorsman, peacefully passed away on April 3, 2024, at his home in Milton, VT, with his family at his side. He had several years of unique health challenges that he managed with grace and dignity from his home with the support of his loving family.
 
 Born on March 15, 1935, in Providence, Rhode Island, Jack was the only child of John and Beulah (McLaughlin) Lindsay. He attended Classical High School and graduated from Cranston East High School in 1954. Jack pursued his higher education at the University of Rhode Island, majoring in Agriculture before transferring to the University of Maine Orono, where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in Forestry and became a member of the Society of American Foresters.
 
 During Easter break of his Junior year, Jack met the love of his life, Pat McMahon, on a blind date. They married on September 1, 1962, and started their life together in Northampton, MA. Jack began his professional journey as a Service Forester for the State of Rhode Island and served in the RI Army National Guard. He later pursued his passion for forestry and recreation management, completing his Master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst while working and raising their family.
 
 After graduation, he worked as a Forester for the State of Massachusetts when he accepted an offer from the Extension Service at the University of Vermont to conduct a one-year pilot program in Recreation Management.  After the successful completion of the program, this became a permanent position where he discovered his passion for teaching and mentoring students.  He and Pat found a beautiful piece of land with a pond and built their forever home. He pursued his PhD in Recreation Management at Utah State in Logan, Utah in 1971 and returned as a faculty member in the Department of Forestry at UVM where he and a colleague co-founded one of the first Recreation Management programs in the country.  His dedication and passion for teaching led him to mentor countless students over 33 years, leaving a lasting impact on the field of Recreation Management. He co-founded one of the country's first Recreation Management programs and worked passionately to advance the field.

 Jack was granted sabbaticals to further his knowledge which included  tenures with the National Park Service in Denver, Colorado and Anchorage, Alaska and as a visiting professor at Boku University in Vienna, Austria.  Some of his contributions included co-writing the master land use plan for Canyonlands National Park and hiking the Chilkoot Trail.  

 
 Throughout his life, Jack's curiosity and love for adventure led his family and friends on countless journeys. From sailing on Lake Champlain and Narragansett Bay, to hiking the National Parks of the US and Canada, Jack instilled a love for the outdoors in everyone around him. Whether it was fishing, hunting, gardening or canoeing, playing noon time basketball or pond hockey, his heart was full of wonderful lifelong memories.  Topping the list were those enjoyed at Pojac Point, the family beach house in North Kingstown, RI and the countless hours spent on his own property.

 Jack is survived by his loving wife Patricia (McMahon) of 62 years and their three children: John; Daniel and wife Kim Tan and their children Alex of Tokyo, Japan, Geneva and Kevin of Foster, RI; Rebecca and husband Marcel Choquette and their children Jayden, Kaeta and her husband Matthew Acosta and their children Erin and Hollis of Bonita Springs, FL; and Killian of Milton, VT; as well as, brother and sister in law, Davis McMahon and wife Cheryl of Foster, RI; Barbara O’Rourke, of Woonsocket, RI and Peter Bruno of North Kingstown, RI.  

 He is also remembered by his cousins Kathleen, Maureen, Jane, Jacqui, Patty, Ellen, Michael, Joan, Joyce and Barbara and numerous nieces, nephews and friends that he loved very much.    He was predeceased by his parents, father and mother-in-law Jim and Helen (James)McMahon, sisters and brothers-in-law Marcia and Bob O’Rourke, Linda Bruno and Charlie O’Rourke; and cousins Gene and Frank Gallagher, Nancy and Bill McLellan and their daughter Martha and Shirley Blaire.

A visitation service to celebrate Jack's life will be held on April 13th from 12:00pm-2:00pm at Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton, VT, followed by a remembrance ceremony at 2:00pm. For out of town guests a block of rooms has been reserved at a reduced rate until 4/10/24. Please use the following link Available Rooms - Hampton Inn Colchester (hilton.com), or call the Hampton Inn directly 802-655-6177.
 
 Contributions in Jack's memory may be made to the Vermont Land Trust or the Milton Youth Hockey Association.
 
 May Jack rest in peace, knowing that his legacy of love, adventure, and dedication to teaching will forever be cherished and remembered.