John "Jack" Randolph Stevens Jr.

January 25, 1941 - May 20, 2023

Services will be held for Jack Stevens at 11 AM on Saturday, July 1st at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, 125 Canterbury Drive, Aptos, CA.

Jack was born and raised in Columbus, GA, after his older sister Ann, both children of John Randolph Stevens, Sr. and Josephine Schuessler.

Jack did his undergraduate work at the University of Georgia where in January 1961 he was one of a handful of students who voluntarily escorted Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes to their classes as they began their successful quest to integrate the university, which had been a whites-only institution since its founding. Jack held strong convictions about fairness & equality.

Later that year Jack hitchhiked a ride from John R. Weaver, both enroute to summer jobs at Yosemite National Park. John & Jack became fast, close friends. John introduced Jack to his family in Stockton, CA. Jack was immediately smitten by John's pretty, blonde younger sister Wendy. Two more summers at Yosemite followed during which time romance blossomed.

After graduating from UGA he enrolled in graduate school at Cal Berkeley receiving his master's degree in Sociology in 1967.

He and Wendy were married in June 1966 after she graduated from San Jose State University. He was then commissioned a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and the newlyweds moved to Ft. Benning, next to his hometown, where he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. After successful surgery and treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center Jack got a phone call from Bob Swenson, the president of Cabrillo College, offering him a job teaching Sociology and Criminology. Delighted with the chance to return to California, he accepted the offer.

Jack and Wendy moved to Santa Cruz and began their family with the birth of John R. Stevens, Ill (1970), followed by daughter Sally who died in infancy and then sons David C. (1973) and Michael W. (1978). Jack and Wendy became active members of the Church of St. John the Baptist. Jack was elected to the vestry for three different three year terms and served as Senior Warden three times.

The family enjoyed summers at Pinecrest Lake until the mid-90's when they discovered Stanley, Idaho in the Sawtooth Mountains, where they bought a lot and camped on it for several summers until they built a cabin, oriented to take in the views of the Sawtooth Mountains.

In 1993 Jack was promoted to Division Chair of the Social Studies Department at Cabrillo. He retired in 2001 and they moved to Boise, Idaho to be closer to their son John’s family who had relocated there after the birth of their first child.

In retirement Jack and Wendy traveled extensively, enjoying trips to Japan, Mongolia, the Silk Road of China, and Ireland with Jack's Cabrillo cohort Sandy Lydon, as well as cruises to Antarctica, Australia and Easter Island, and trips to Peru and the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan.

Last year, after twenty years in Idaho they relocated “back home” to Aptos and again became active members of their St. John's community. Jack’s last year was spent happily reconnecting with lifelong friends and enjoying walking his dogs in their Aptos neighborhood.

Jack died of post-operative complications following surgery to repair an intestinal obstruction. Jack was surrounded by his family with love, music & prayer in his final hours.

In addition to Wendy, his wife of 56 years, he is survived by his sons John, David and Michael, their respective spouses Jennifer, Melanie and Christian, grandchildren Zachary, Kate, Aiyana & Avani, nephews Randy & Mincy Moffett, Scott & Greg Weaver and their families.

Jack lived an extraordinary, full life, traveled widely, incessantly corrected our grammar,”there, their and they’re,” and spent as much time as possible in nature, especially the mountains. Some of the mountain tops he summited include the Matterhorn, Grand Teton, Mt. Shasta, Mont Blanc, Mt. Rainer, & Mt. Whitney. He loved his family and menagerie of pets fiercely and in return was deeply loved by them.

Memorial contributions can be made to the John Ritter Foundation, the Sierra Club or the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Aptos, CA.