On Saturday morning, Nov. 27, 1999, family, friends, colleagues and former students gathered at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Hicksville for a memorial Mass for recently deceased John Kearns Jr. Many in the community will remember "Jack" - the gentleman, the scholar, the educator who served so many years in the Hicksville school system.

Born in Mayport, England, with an Irish family background, Jack arrived in the Hicksville area as a youngster. He went from kindergarten through high school in the Hicksville School District. After completing college, Jack returned and jokingly remarked, "They knew me, but hired me anyway!" He served as a teacher and administrator for 33 years - first as English chairman in the junior high and later as chairman in the high school.

Jack is survived by his devoted wife, Joan (nee Kerbs) and by his loving daughters, Kathleen Green, Carol Ann Kearns and Patricia Sferlazza, their spouses and five dear grandchildren.

As eulogized by Charles Demarest, a friend of many years, "Jack, good bye, we love you and please remember that your influence goes on eternally in the loving memory of family, friends and a myriad of lucky ex-students." We will miss you.