Obituaries

FORBES, Jack John Dow

Jack [John] Dow Forbes, father, friend, brother, potter, professor, and Medalta man, played the long game. Jack passionately pursued pottery as a professor of fine arts in the Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, as co-author of Pottery in Alberta: The Long Tradition, as Executive Director of Medalta National Historic Clay District, and as studio potter of Blue Heart Pottery, Peachland.

Jack

Condolence Messages

May 23, 2019
My Uncle Jack had a calm and strong presence wherever he went. I always felt comfortable with him as a child. I felt his protective and gentle nature from a very early age. When I was a baby, I would become inconsolable during the transition from day to evening. Nothing would calm me down, except Uncle Jack. I lay on his big belly and he would console me. One day when I was child we were walking in downtown Vancouver and a homeless man was peeing in a plant pot outside of a cafe. He said "don't look Julie" but of course I did. He took my hand and I stopped feeling scared. I will always think fondly of my Uncle Jack. He will forever be in my heart.
May 22, 2019
I am proud to be an old friend of Jack Forbes, he was a great guy with no end of passion for any thing he was doing or a project he really believed in. We met back in the late 1960's-early 1970's as budding potters in Alberta ready to blaze new trails in the art world. We were part of a vital group that founded the Alberta Potters Association and the Alberta Crafts Council.

In 1974 Jack came to Medicine Hat to research material for a book that he and Marylou Antinalli were writing "Pottery in Alberta the Long Tradition". Jack called on me to go to look at the Medalta Potteries site as a good prospect for a Alberta Historic Sites Provincial museum. This venture took on a life of it's own and stayed in both of our lives for the next 45 years. Lots of good people got involved over the years making Medalta a true success story and Jack can be very proud of being the one that started this project.

Jack and I had a long friendship with some unfortunate long distance gaps, he was always my first mention when telling the story of Medalta and I have always been sorry that Jack was not here all these years to receive his proper due.

James Marshall

Medicine Hat
May 22, 2019
I met Jack as the 'Medalta man', participating in the initial development of the site. Our friendship then grew beyond that. I admired Jack's warmth, intelligence, commitment, vision, humour, and recommendations of Okanagan wines. I endured many a fast drive between Edmonton and Medicine Hat, mitigated by the stimulating conversation. We will all miss Jack immensely and think of him for many years to come.

Hal Kalman
May 21, 2019
Jack became a great friend as we worked together at Medalta Potteries. The friendship began in 1984 when our mutual friend, Jim Marshall, involved me in the effort to save the 'old' pottery. Through all the many ups and downs of the project Jack's passion always shone through. His contribution to Medalta was remarkable and appreciated by all who knew him. I came to admire not only his commitment and passion for it but also his intellect and fine sense of humour - we soon became great friends.

My wife and I enjoyed his company and wonderful conversation as we crossed paths in Calgary and Peachland. We are honoured to have known Jack - someone who made a difference.

Lorne & Jacquie Simpson
May 21, 2019
While Jack was only in my life for a few years, he had a tremendous influence on me and the folks who knew him in Japan.

When Jack arrived in Japan, he was a potter without clay. He had recently retired and following his wife Ardiss to Japan, and I believe he was looking to create. I was so fortunate that he found me. I had just embarked on a project to build a large wood burning kiln in the countryside, a couple of hours outside of Kyoto. Jack was a Godsend to me, and I think the project was similar for him. Jack came out almost every weekend and as the kiln progressed I think he was as invested in the outcome as I. We spent weekend after weekend, laying brick, as the sun went down we'd have a beer or sake, eventually stumbling over the mountain in the dark back to our sleeping quarters. I'll never forget one night after a particularly long session with sake, we were walking back, talking, when Jack suddenly screamed. He had fallen off the trail into a rice paddy. I found him on his back covered in mud! He looked like a flipped over turtle and couldn't get out. Luckily only his pride was injured, and once he was out and cleaned up we had a good laugh out of it.

Jack was a kind of "Gentle Giant" here in Japan. He towered over the locals, but the Japanese who knew him all loved him to death. He was so generous with his time, and he touched so many lives here.

For me personally I don't know if the kiln would have gotten built without Jack - certainly not as quickly or as enjoyably. It's over 20 years since Jack was here, but I still see his imprint on so many things around the kiln. He was such a dear soul and his memory will live on for a long time in this little corner of Japan.

John Dix
May 21, 2019
Dear Jack;

Warm, funny, loyal; very good friend. You will be very sadly missed.

We met Jack when he came to the U.K. to undertake research at The Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Shropshire, for a year.

Within a very short space of time Jack became a very good friend and came to live with us for the duration of his stay in the U.K. We shared many adventures (too many to relate), good food ( ahh, a good roast, especially beef followed by steamed pudding was favourite), and, of course, good British beer!

He was best man at our wedding. A very special friend.

As the years passed and we became distracted and absorbed by family and work we drifted and lost touch. So, to make contact again recently has been a huge joy, albeit too brief, and a privilege to be able to embrace him, though from a distance, during the last lap of a life well lived.

Rest In Peace old friend.

Kathryn and Jeremy, Shropshire, England.
May 20, 2019
I had the privilege to know and work with Jack on the Clay Products Historic District and Medalta in Medicine Hat.

I knew Jack for a number of years and he was in my opinion Alberta's expert on our provinces pottery and ceramic industry history.

His vision and knowledge contributed to the success of the preservation and interpretation at Medalta.

Rest in Peace my friend,

A job well done

Rino Basso
May 20, 2019
I wish my sincere condolences. I had the pleasure of knowing Jack only three years but he became a special friend to me here at The Village At Mill Creek!! I will miss his chuckle that we had together.

You will be missed Jack!!

Jeff Gartrell
May 19, 2019
Jack was a great friend and a very good man. Jack would always listen and was always interested in what his friends would have to say. Jack and I met through our dogs in 1992 as we would walk our dogs together in Peachland, Jack with Lily and Lucy and I with Buddy. Louise and I loved to go to Ardiss and Jack`s place for parties, the dogs would hang out together and we would enjoy Ardiss`s ethnic meals complete with accent. Ardiss, had a PHD in English and taught foreign exchange students at UBC Okanagan so the girl knew a lot of different accents. I would visit Jack over the years at Mill Creek and we would talk. Jack loved talking about staying with his, "Pedal to the medal" Auntie. She would drive 80 mph on gravel roads, loose gravel, didnt't matter lol , in Manitoba when he spent the summers there after his mom died. Some of his fondest memories are when he helped on the farm and felt important, and he was important as all farm kids, me included. Jack lived his life through his son John in later years. They took roads trips together, fishing on the coast and trips to Europe together. They did not have a lot of time together but they made the most of it. Jack will be missed by his friends and his family. Robert James Adderley