[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 155 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S13658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   JAMES ``JACK'' MEEHAN: IN MEMORIAM

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to share with my colleagues the 
memory of a remarkable man, James ``Jack'' Meehan of Santa Cruz, CA, 
who died on Saturday, October 25, 2003. Throughout his life he compiled 
an extraordinary record of devotion to his family, his community and 
our Nation. Jack was an 84-year-old longtime Santa Cruz resident, 
former Santa Cruz City Planning Commissioner and Santa Cruz Port 
District Commissioner, pilot, space industry pioneer, community 
volunteer and beloved husband, father and grandfather.
  Jack was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He married Brenda McGourty 
in 1942 and she remained his devoted partner for 57 years until her 
death in 1999. Jack and Brenda had three children: daughter Diana and 
sons Terry and Tom.
  He served as an Army air corps pilot in Europe during World War II. 
After his plane was shot down, Jack's bravery helped him successfully 
evade capture. We will always be grateful for Jack's heroic service 
defending our Nation, our freedoms and our way of life.
  During the 1950s, Jack put his aviation skills to use as a Viking 
rocket designer and tester in New Mexico. He was a pioneer in this 
field because the Viking rocket was a precursor to the Vanguard rocket 
which launched America's first satellite.
  In 1959, Jack and his family settled in beautiful Santa Cruz. Jack 
tested satellites at Lockheed Martin in nearby Sunnyvale. He continued 
to pilot small planes until he gave that up in 1977. But of course, 
Jack's irrepressible spirit kept him very active, and he began boating 
in the Monterey Bay. Like everything Jack did, he gave boating his all 
and joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary, assisting in sea rescues. He also 
taught weather forecasting and radio communications.
  In 1981, he was appointed to the Santa Cruz Port Commission, a 
position to which he was twice re-elected over the next 17 years. He 
also served as a Santa Cruz City Planning Commissioner.
  After Jack retired, he was a devoted volunteer for the Santa Cruz 
County Red Cross. He built HAM radio systems, travelled and practiced 
his French language skills. Recalls his son Tom, ``Sports cars, TV's, 
HAM radios and computers were all puzzles to be unwrapped with his 
tools and insight.''
  His daughter Diana commented, ``I most admire that he was brave and 
loving. He was romantic, tender and funny with my mother. He was a 
caring father.'' Throughout his life, Jack was constantly helping 
anyone in need. As one friend and neighbor explained of Jack and 
Brenda, ``they always served the community.''
  Jack had a wonderful sense of humor. Even when he was sick and in the 
hospital, his caregivers would leave the room smiling because of his 
joking. ``He had a quick wit that was kind, playful and relentless. He 
had a distinctive Jack Meehan laugh and you could find him in airports 
and crowded restaurants by that laugh,'' remembered son Terry. Added 
son Tom, ``Whenever asked about his favorite time of life, he would 
always respond `right now, and in the future.' ''
  James ``Jack'' Meehan is survived by his daughter Diana, sons Terry 
and Tom and six grandchildren. He was an exceptional man.

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