Jack Coad October 18, 1930 - December 4, 2023

John Dennis ‘Jack’ Coad, Jr.

Born October 18, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri and died on December 4, 2023 following a long illness.  Raised in the St. Louis area, Jack attended Purdue University for two years before being called to service in the Korean War, acting as an interpreter for the U.S. occupation forces in Japan.  After the war, he attended Washington University graduating with honors in 1954.  He began his career in Washington D.C. with the National Security Agency and attended American University, obtaining his MSCB in 1960.  Jack returned to St. Louis with McDonnell Douglas Corporation until co-founding Coad, Rascovar & Associates in 1972, where he led the engineering functions until the firm was sold to Parsons Brinkerhoff in 1998.  Jack was a professional engineer licensed in 40 states, and served as a Vice President until his retirement in 2015.

Jack had many interests – he was an avid sailor and was a founder of the Carlyle Sailing Association.  Competitive racing in the Thistle class took him all over the United States, but he enjoyed most spending weekends at Carlyle Lake, and sailing the Caribbean with friends and family.  His love of music involved playing the guitar and spending many late-night hours singing Japanese karaoke.  Jack’s love of Japan followed him after the war where he was active in the Japan-America Society of St. Louis, the St. Louis-Suwa Sister City Committee, and the annual Japanese Festival held in the Botanical Gardens.  He began skiing with the McDonnell Douglas Ski club where he experienced many of the slopes in Colorado, and enjoyed frequent trips spanning decades across North America and Europe.  Jack and his wife, Maryanna, traveled widely across the United States, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  Regardless of the destination, they were always able to find a Japanese restaurant and a Catholic church in any town they visited.

Jack treasured his family and often reserved his wit and humor for his grandchildren and family events.  He took great pleasure in attending family functions, was an enthusiastic fan at his grandchildren’s sporting events, and enjoyed being serenaded by his great-granddaughter on the violin.  His adroit use of a samurai sword to cut birthday cakes made every birthday celebration at his home special.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Maryanna Coad, his daughter Ann Lacker and her partner Scott Zerban, sons John Coad and his wife Nancy, and David Coad and his wife Cha, grandchildren JD (Megan), Jeremy (Zoe), Melanie (Chris), Kenny, Christina (Christa), Catherine, Shannon (Michael), Bobby, and Allison, great grandchildren Jaylon, Sofia, and Lily, and his sister Peggy Cicirelli.

Services:  A Rosary, visitation and funeral Mass will be held Saturday, December 16 at Ascension Catholic Church (in the Little Church), 230 Santa Maria Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017.  Rosary at 9:30 a.m., visitation at 10:00 a.m., with the Mass to follow at 10:30 a.m.  A private inurnment with military honors will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Monday, December 18th.  In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donations to Barefoot Children Ministries.