John “Jack” James Regan, Jr.
June 26, 1945 – Nov. 27, 2019
John “Jack” James Regan, Jr., M.D., age 74 of Homer, Alaska, died on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jack graduated from Benilde High School. He attended the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul) and then the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) where he earned a bachelor of science and a medical degree. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (Boston) and a fellowship in endocrinology at the Veterans Administration Hospital (Minneapolis).
Jack served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, living for three years in Kaiserslautern, Germany, before settling into an internal medicine private practice in Minneapolis, where he built a beautiful family life, home and garden. He was especially enthralled with the pink-and-white lady-slipper flower, and he had a joyous appreciation of the Minnehaha Creek.
In 2002, Jack moved to Anchorage, Alaska, to work as physician for the VA Clinic. While in Anchorage, Jack’s internal compass led him to the town of Homer on the Kenai Peninsula, and in 2007 he retired from the VA and purchased land in Homer, Alaska.
He was an enthusiastic gardener, an avid fisherman, an expert baker of sourdough bread, and an emerging talent in the art of winemaking. He grew his grapes in a high tunnel in Homer using, among others, the Marquette variety grape, a cold-hardy hybrid developed by the University of Minnesota. Jack lived a life of meaningful friendships and strong community involvement. He served as president of the Homer Garden Club; as president of Patrons of the Pratt Society, an organization that supports the Pratt Museum; and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. Jack had a deep appreciation for the profound beauty of Kachemak Bay in Southcentral Alaska.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille and John J. Regan Sr. M.D.; and his brother, Kevin Regan.
Jack is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jane Regan; and three daughters, Molly (Michael Selle), Sarah (William Taygan), and Abigale (Gregory Tsark).; five grandchildren, Malik Selle, Ruth and Lucille Taygan, and Samuel and Peter Tsark; five siblings, sisters Marguerite Sandburg and Mary Gilbertson and brothers Timothy, Christopher and Peter Regan; and many other wonderful relatives and friends.
Jack’s love of the natural world and his adventurous spirit was a joy and inspiration to all who knew him. He was a loving husband and an exceptional father, and he will be deeply missed.
Arrangements: As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 708 Smoky Bay Way, Homer, AK 99603 www.akcoastalstudies.org, or to the Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett St, Homer, AK 99603 www.prattmuseum.org. A Memorial Walk in Jack’s honor will be held next Memorial Day weekend at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2020.
