He was born in Los Angeles, the third of eight children. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joy; three daughters, Karen (and husband, Darrell) Meddings, Jacki Palmer and Joani (and husband, Dave) Ingoldsby; brother Tom Whaling; sister Kathryn Judd; seven grandchildren, Brad and Jeanne Baysinger, Julie Curtis, Renee and Geoff Palmer, and Tom and Holly Ingoldsby; and four great grandchildren, Jason and Tanya Baysinger, and Karen and Heath Curtis.
Jack played baseball and pitched batting practice for the Chicago Cubs in 1938. He held a 1964 Guinness world record for catching the largest Pacific blue marlin, and he was an avid golfer.