Born in Boise, Idaho, to George and Henrietta Stendal, Jack graduated from Lincoln High School in Portland before attending Reed. His college days ended in the winter of ’41 when he was called for military duty. He got the chance to attend the U.S. Naval Academy’s reserve midshipman training at Annapolis, and after receiving further training in sonar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, he reported to the Pacific Fleet for anti-marine duty. Except for a time as an instructor at the Navy’s sound school in San Diego, he served in the South Pacific until the end of World War II.
In 1943, he married Irene Applegate, and their daughter, SueAnn, was born while they were stationed in San Diego. After the war, Jack was a CPA with Haskins & Sells, and later with the Oregon Department of Revenue. He was active in Oregon politics, the campaign treasurer for Governor Tom McCall and Secretary of State Clay Myers. Jack also served on and chaired the Oregon Fair Commission. An enthusiastic woodworker and carpenter, he loved to travel and take pictures. He is survived by his daughter, SueAnn Peters (Dan), and sister, Geoetta Whitney.