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COURTIN, JACK W. Major Jack W. Courtin, 96, a long-time teacher and lifetime learner passed away peacefully on December 8, 2013, one month short of his 97th birthday. Jack was a man of many interests. He was a voracious reader of non-fiction, history and mathematics. Birding, golf and physical fitness were also his passions. Born in Oakland, CA and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Jack joined the Army Air Corp in WWII where he served as a navigator on a B-24. His plane was shot down in February 1944 while bombing the Ploesti oil fields in Rumania. He and the rest of the crew parachuted to safety but were quickly captured and held in a German prisoner of war (POW) camp until their rescue by US forces later that year. After the war Jack earned his Bachelors degree from Springfield College, MA and his Masters from Syracuse University. He then began a 34-year career teaching high school math in upstate New York and in Northport, on Long Island. In 1979, following the death of his first wife of 34 years, Virginia Gallagher, Jack retired and moved to Albuquerque in 1987 where he met and married his current wife of 26 years, Evelyn Horn. In Albuquerque Jack was an active member of the POW group and received wonderful care from the doctors and nurses at the Veterans Hospital. Jack is survived by his wife Evelyn; sons Scott Courtin - Austin, Texas, Craig Courtin and wife Jeanette - Foster City, CA, Geoff Courtin - Albuquerque; grandchildren Ryan and Adam Courtin and Erika Ammann and husband Brandon; great-granddaughters Harper and Holland - La Crescenta, CA; as well as stepchildren John Campbell - Albuquerque and Joann Gunter - Daytona Beach, FL. A memorial service will be held on April 26, 2014 at 2:00 pm at French Mortuary, 10500 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque.
        Published on: Sun April 20, 2014