Notes:
John Harold 'Jack' Socolofsky
March 24, 1934 - Dec. 9, 2017
Jack Socolofsky, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and dedicated public servant, died peacefully Dec. 9, 2017 with his family around him. He leaves a legacy of love, gentleness, justice, and service to the community.
Jack was born in Hoquiam, Wash., as the first child of Harold J. and Margaret (Mumaw) Socolofsky. His father's work with Washington State Welfare and Vocational Services took the family to Long Beach and then to Olympia, where Jack attended school, graduating from William Winlock Miller High School in 1952.
Jack attended the University of Oregon, where he was a member and served as president of Beta Theta Phi fraternity. He was involved in many campus activities including Board Chairman of the Erb Memorial Student Union. He was a member of several student leadership groups including the Honor Society of Friars. As a college junior, Jack chaired the annual Junior Weekend Prom Committee. Serving on that committee was freshman Mary Helen Williams. The following fall term, he finally asked her on a date which led to a pinning, an engagement, and a lifelong commitment. They were married in Gardiner, Ore…a marriage that lasted 59 years.
After graduating in 1956 with a BS in Political Science, Jack served as an officer in the Military Intelligence Unit at Fort Sill, Okla. Returning from the Service, Jack obtained a law degree from the University of Oregon in 1960. In 1961, Jack became an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oregon. His specialty was Public Utilities and Administrative Law. Jack was a member of Marion County Bar Association, the Oregon State Bar Association and during his 35 year career, he presented cases before State and Federal courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. He served on the Salem Legal Aid Board and as an officer of Marion County Bar Association.
Jack is survived by wife, Mary Helen; their children; grandchildren; great-grandchild; and his sister, Margaret Sogge of Lacey, Wash.
Jack and Mary Helen lived in Salem for 56 years. Their children are Shelley Socolofsky Saucedo (Anthony) of West Linn, Brad Socolofsky (Tami) of Lake Oswego, and Greg Socolofsky (Christine Borchert) of Portland; grandchildren include Anna, Galina, Alexandra, Jackson, Gabrielle and Joaquin; and great-grandson, Mason. Family was always the most important element of Jack's life. Jack and Mary Helen delighted in attending all their children's and grandchildren's musical, theater, scouting, and athletic events. Jack and Mary Helen enjoyed many travels to Europe and other destinations with their children during their college years and beyond. All their family traveled together to a favorite place…Napili Bay, Maui, to celebrate Jack and Mary Helen's 50th wedding anniversary.
Jack was proud to be an Oregon Duck and supported all Duck athletic programs with great enthusiasm, especially football, basketball and track. He enjoyed classic movies, NPR and OPB, classical and '40's swing music, fine art, and ballet. He ordered a guitar by mail and taught himself to play so he could serenade his young children when they were having bubble baths. He was a proficient chess player and made a few special friends from around the world through playing online chess. He loved to take his friends and family fishing on Oregon lakes and rivers in his boat. He enjoyed traveling, including researching and preparing detailed itineraries.
Jack's favorite hobby was playing golf, beginning in elementary school when his father would take him on the courses in Olympia; later joining the high school golf team; playing for many years at Salem Golf Club; and he took his "dream trip" to St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1995 with his son and two best friends.
Jack was a faithful member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church since 1961. His many church activities included serving on the Vestry as a member and Senior Warden; Stephen Ministry; Eucharistic Ministry; and Sunday School teacher.
Jack delighted in working with Salem Heights Elementary School children through the SMART Reader Program for 10 years. He served for several years as a volunteer member of the Oregon Board of Psychiatry.
In the spring of 2017, Jack and Mary Helen moved to Willamette View Retirement Community in Portland to be near their children and grandchildren and to enjoy the abundant cultural riches of Portland.
Jack's memorial service will be at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1444 Liberty Street S.E. in Salem, with a reception following in the Parish Hall. Private interment will be in the St. Paul's Columbarium.
Donations in Jack's memory may be made to: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1444 Liberty Street S.E., Salem, OR 97302.
SMART (Start Making a Reader Today), 101 S.W. Market Street, Portland, OR 97201.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon, The Lawyers' Campaign for Equal Justice, 620 S.E. Fifth Ave., Suite 1225, Portland, OR 97204
[Published in The Oregonian from Dec. 15 to Dec. 17, 2017 |