The following few sentences will never be enough to capture and share a life so well lived by perhaps the last Renaissance Man of our time. From father to great-great grandfather and from acquaintance to a life-long friend, Jack Bates cast a tremendous shadow of charisma, confidence and love that was larger than life.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ellen (Emerson) Bates; his brother Donald Bates of NYC; his son John Bates and his wife Deidra, his late son Clifford’s wife Leslie Mitchell, his five daughters and sons-in-law, Marie Corcoran and her husband Mark, Lorraine Cote and her husband William, Joanne Soulard and her husband James, Linda Korn and her husband Frank, and Jennifer Ehlert and her husband Doug. He is also survived by his very special stepchildren, James Kolodziey and his wife Robin, Sondra Johnstone and her husband John, Jill Johnston and her husband Dane, all from Raleigh, NC, and Erin McNally and her husband Sean of Hudson, FL; and his brothers-in-law, George “Packy” Emerson and Danny Emerson.
Jack also leaves his 26 grandchildren, Heather Mahoney, Lisa Majernik, Thomas Corcoran, Christine Smith, Bill Cote, Renee Watkins, Jillian Cote, John B. Bates IV, Brenna Colomb, Elizabeth Smith, Brian Soulard, Hannah Soulard, Frank Korn, Amy Fleming, Lindsay Korn, Julia and Alison Bates, James, Jake, and Sean Eaker, Lindsay Rupe, Sam Johnstone, Briana Provenzano, and Elizabeth and Hadley Kolodziey, his 20 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins all of whom he loved greatly.
Jack was the son of the late Helen G. (MacCormack) and Clifford H. Bates. He is pre-deceased by his first wife, Elizabeth (Deneen) Bates of 38 years, his son Clifford, his brothers Richard Bates and his wife Sandra, and Paul Bates, and his in-laws Charles T. and John P. Emerson, Mary Bisha and her husband Gordon, and Edward “Ackie” Korszeniewski and his wife Joan.
From his teenage years to the end of his earthly days Jack was a connoisseur of music, the arts, sports, including skating, skiing, and golfing, but the passion that flowed through his very being was his love of opera which he mastered to sing in five different languages.
His captivating tenor voice touched the lives of thousands as he sang many roles with The Boston Opera Company, The Longwood Opera, Command Performance, La Chorale Orion, Spindle City Singers and the Christ United Choir. His powerful and fine-tuned voice blessed many as he shared his passion in cathedrals, temples, churches and chapels and many local Senior Centers.
He was a member of The Chelmsford Players and will be forever remembered for his starring role as Sid in The Pajama Game.
He proudly sang our National Anthem as well as the Canadian Anthem at the Boston Garden, for the Boston Bruins.
Jack also sang by invitation at the White House for President Lyndon Johnson.
Jack served our country as an Air Force Veteran.
Jack was a determined entrepreneur who founded several businesses in the New England area including Engineering Services Unlimited and The Merrimack Lyric Opera Company.
During his retirement years he became a PGA Rules Official, a Ski Instructor for Bretton Woods and Loon Mountain, an Assistant Golf Pro in Florida, and was a beloved volunteer at the Fred Olds School in North Carolina.
In his life Jack also carried many well-earned titles such as prolific golfer, esteemed member and entertainer at Mount Pleasant GC (whom he represented in the 1968 Lowell Cities Golf Tournament) an alumnus of The Cape Cod Classic, Master of Martinis, a 1960’s era “Show Stopper” who raised his children on Broadway musicals. He also had the greenest grass in town!
He was a dead giveaway for Captain Jack Sparrow, a meticulous bonsai tree expert, a stylish and colorful dresser without equal.
Jack ‘s love of life was without limits, and he was always “all-in” with every opportunity and desire that intrigued him. His pursuits included running the Boston Marathon in 1988 with his son, Cliff, finishing with the amazing time of 4:00:31. Though in his later years he was legally blind he became a licensed artist who filled our homes with breath-taking canvases of color; just as he did as a young father who painted stunning Christmas murals on the mirror in his living room to the awe of his young children.
He had a special relationship with each of his grandchildren, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law, sharing special times and interests with each one.
Jack became friends with everyone he met and cherished each person he knew in their own special way.
Above all things in his life, was his love for his family.
There will never be another like him. The one and only Jack Bates.
Goodbye D.O.D. (Dear Old Dad)
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, January 2, 2023 from 4 – 7 pm at the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His funeral service and interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at stjude.org or by mail to 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.