Betz, John Ernest 'Jack'
March 25, 1929 - February 11, 2025
Our cherished father Jack Betz passed away peacefully at Meaford Hospital February 11th, 2025 at the age of 95, just shy of his 96th birthday.
Jack is survived by his children Kimberley Betz and Richard Betz. He is predeceased by his loving wife Hedy (née Rimkus) and brothers William and David Betz.
Jack was born in Toronto in 1929 and grew up in the East End of the city on Grant Street, surviving the Great Depression. He attended Riverdale Collegiate and took on several humble jobs to help pay the bills, the most memorable being working for Toronto Life Saving and Police Services where he witnessed the historic fire in Toronto harbour of the SS Noronic in 1949. His least favourite job was delivering bills for the gas company. He joked that he made very few friends and no one was ever happy to see him.
Unfulfilled, he decided to enrol at the University of Toronto where he excelled in geophysics. There he became a keen member of the boxing team and developed a life-long passion for fitness.
Upon graduation he started his own company John Betz Ltd and was a pioneer in the field of geophysics. He consulted all over the world and loved sharing stories of his travels. He spent much of his time in Northern Quebec and never missed an opportunity to show off his fluency in French.
Jack was an avid skier and was a heritage member at Craigleith Ski Club. It was his love for the sport that ultimately fuelled his decision to move to Meaford in 1992. He had a competitive streak and not only joined the adult racing league but worked behind the scenes of the club’s Going Downhill League. The feather in his cap was winning gold at the 2000 Ontario Senior Winter Games.
Summers would find Jack at Northwinds Beach where in his 50s he taught himself to windsurf. He would sheepishly blame others if colourful language floated across the bay when things didn’t quite go his way. In his later years he traded in his board for a bicycle. The neighbours would see him routinely race past as he tried to beat his previous time around the block. It was his firm belief that staying active is what kept him young.
Jack was a true lover of music and held season tickets for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company, then subsequently the Georgian Bay Symphony Orchestra. At the mere mention of Mozart he would tear up, marvelling at the beautiful genius of the young lad who could compose such intricate masterpieces by the light of a candle. Jack’s amateur videographer skills brought him to local performances where he could be found faithfully filming. He then spent hours editing so he could later distribute copies to the musicians and audience members. In fact it was this activity that occupied most of his time in his later years.
Jack Betz had a quick wit and a song for every occasion. He also loved to showboat on and off the dance floor. He was a truly wonderful and unique character.
A celebration of life will be held at his home in Meaford once warmer weather arrives.
As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society or the Meaford Hospital Foundation would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted. www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca
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Sunday, February 16, 2025
Dear Richard,
I was sorry to read about your Dad. He and your Mum were such supportive parents when you were in my class. They were both proud of their children and wanted the best for you. Jack devoted many volunteer hours to our Meaford Soccer League.
Lorene Taylor
Friday, February 28, 2025
I just want to thank you for being one of the best teachers I ever had. I still have fond memories to this day. 10 out of 10, would time travel to re-experience.
Sunday, February 16, 2025
Kim and Richard, so sorry to learn of your dad’s passing. We have so many wonderful memories of our visits to Toronto and seeing your parents. Our son Jason enjoyed spending the summers in Toronto at the cottage and spending time with Richard. Jack was a lot of fun to be around. Just know we are thinking of you and sending our sympathy and love.
Friday, February 28, 2025
The Sabow family is forever in my memories and life. I’d love to visit you all sometime.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Thank you for your kind words. Margot and Wolf were part of the family for our entire childhood.
Not only were they our closest neighbours in the city, but I still often dream about their cottage. I can picture every trip hazard down to the dock. In fact I can still smell Wolf’s Noxema.
I’m so glad we are still in touch. ❤️
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
It seems long ago and far away when I first arrived in Canada as a neophyte geophysicist transferred from Anaconda’s geophysical head office in Tooele Utah to these northern climes. Jack, the indomitable Jack, nursed me into the world of Precambrian geophysics and I must admit tortured me with his total love of opera which to this day I still passionately hate. And his basement acoustic chamber where he spent hours in total rapture. The world will miss his limitless dedication to everything he did. I can see him now in the eternal ether, eyes closed, slowly swaying back and forth, listening to his favorite tunes! Rest easy Jack, we’ll catch up soon enough!
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Thanks for the laugh Bil! He was indeed very insistent with his music. So even if he didn’t win you over with the opera, I hope his knowledge of Precambrian geophysics did the trick!
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to my cousins Kim and Richard. I will always remember their Dad as my Uncle Jack who was a very supportive and kind person. I will remember that he was an avid skier, wind surfer and cyclist who often spoke French with Auntie Erika. I will remember his great appreciation for music and wine and that he was always there to help Oma when she moved to Meaford. I remember that he had incredible dance skills and I really enjoyed skiing with him at Craigleith as well as spending time in the summer months with the family in Collingwood. My thoughts and prayers are with you Kim and Richard.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Thank you John. I love how you still refer to my dad as Uncle Jack. I often long to return to those childhood days. What I wouldn’t give for one more family gathering at Oma’s and Opa’s with our crew. When we still had moms and dads.. and aunties and uncles.. and Omas and Opas. And I would really love it if the Betzes could see the Grivells a little more often. Please let’s try to make that happen!
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Kim and Rich,
I share and understand your sadness. Take comfort in knowing that Jack lived a long and good life. My memories of Jack shall live on and I will see his spirit in both of you.
With all sincerity, your friend
James Ansara
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Thanks James. My dad really liked you.. especially as a fellow music aficionado. He always enjoyed your company. He also really loved rolling the Rrr in your last name for some reason. Me: Ansara. Him: Ansarrrrra.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
My sympathies to all who miss Jack. He and I had a working relationship lasting tens of years, becoming a long distance friendship after his and Hedy’s move to Meaford.
Physical death is a blessing to the soul-mind and a sorrow to the remaining friends and family.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Tapio! Now that’s a name I remember from decades ago! You and dad would tie up the phone line for HOURS much to my pre-teen chagrin. I would gingerly pick the upstairs phone up to see if you were still at it, and of course you still were! Hours and hours!
I also remember driving out to visit you once and my dad ran over a small snapping turtle on the way. Jack could never ignore my pleas to check on an animal in distress. So we circled back and put what we thought was a dead turtle into a box. I was crying and stroking it when it suddenly latched onto my finger – and hard! We were too far away from its home base at that point so we continued on to your place.
Had you excavated a pit on your property that you then filled with water? I feel like that’s where we maybe released “Snappy”?
At any rate, thank you Tapio.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Please accept my heartfelt condolences to Jack’s family. I had the privilege of working with Jack during part of his collaboration with Apex Parametrics Limited, where he tested the MaxMin, an electromagnetic instrument. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Thank you Mony for your kind note.
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Very sorry to hear of your loss. I couldn’t help it but felt I had to send something. I met ” Jack ” when he used to come to Chibougamau , Qc consulting for Campbell Chibougamau Mines in the early 70’s for numerouus years. I helped him a few times in the winter on Lake Chibougamau for max min surveys. Those times were very fond memories of him ! Georges & Sandi
Friday, March 21, 2025
Bonjour Georges. When I was a wee child, I already knew “Chibougamau” was a place in Quebec.. a place my dad frequented often. One year (circa 79-83) my mom Hedy, our cat Kody and I Joined dad in the Dodge Dart on a road trip to Chibougamau.
We spent one memorable night in a freezing house in the middle of nowhere (as Jack was accustomed to at the time). There was a very active bat in the belfries that Kody kept trying to catch and I remember worrying about rabies. I was so happy that we weren’t there for long.
Our next stop was at one of dad’s colleagues. You perhaps? It is where I strong-armed mom and dad into adopting our dog Schtroumpf – a stray that had followed someone home from a beach? Does this ring a bell?
My dad’s memory was incredibly spot-on for his entire life and only failed as Alzheimer’s took over in his late 80s. There are so many questions I tried to ask him before it was too late.