Jack Sisson, a respected longtime educator, coach, referee, and athlete, reunites in death with his beloved wife, Elinor Lee, his partner of 65 years.
The Belleville Sports Hall of Famer Jack Sisson passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Hospice Quinte in Belleville, Ontario, at 96, surrounded by his family.
He was best known as the coach, advisor, and mentor of Quinte Secondary School.
From 1954 to 1972, he served as a teacher, coach, and vice-principal at Quinte, and Until 1986, he served as Trenton High School’s principal.
As an athlete, Jack helped the Queen’s Golden Gaels to an intercollegiate football championship by playing half-back.
After showcasing his exceptional football skills at Queen’s University, Jack Sisson was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Jack refereed intercollegiate football games for several years and then high school football games until he was 70.
Moreover, after his retirement, Jack spent a peaceful life with his beloved wife, Elinor, and the couple bicycled across Canada.
He also continued to play golf until the age of 95.
Sisson was predeceased by his loving wife, Elinor Mary Lee Sisson, with whom he spent 65 wonderful years.
His longtime wife, Elinor Mary Sisson, passed away on April 9, 2019, in Belleville, Ontario, at the age of 88.
Jack Sisson And His Wife, Elinor Mary, First Met At Queen’s Univeristy!
The late couple Jack and Elinor first met while attending Queen’s University.
Jack graduated with a bachelor’s degree in arts and physical education degree, and Elinor earned a bachelor’s in arts degree from Queen’s Univeristy.
After graduation, Jack married Elinor in Kingston in 1953. The couple spent their first year of marriage living in Toronto, where Jack attended teacher’s college, and Elinor worked as a secretary to pay their bills.
Similarly, the couple moved to Belleville, where Jack began his journey as a teacher and V.P. of Quinte Secondary School and then a Principal at Trenton High School.
For 65 years, Jack and Elinor remained together as each other’s constant source of support, raising their family.
The late Elinor was born in Toronto on March 5, 1932, to mother Gertrude Elinor Mary Mahood and John ‘Jack‘ McDonald Lee.
Her father was a native of North Bay, whereas her mother was originally from Kingston.
Her father passed away in a tragic car accident when Elinor was just five years old, and she moved along with her family to Kingston, where her mother married Richard Dick Oaks of Toronto.
Jack Sisson and his Wife Elinor Were Proud Parents of Four Children!
The late Jack Sisson and Elinor raised four children: Susan Merritt, Anne Blaser, Scott Sisson, and Carol Wiggins, all to be successful in their respective fields.
Their son Scott followed in his father Jack’s footsteps in sports for a while.
Scott is a former college basketball player who showcased his exceptional skills playing as a guard with Queen’s University and the University of Calgary.
Scott began his basketball journey in the 1977-78 season with Queen’s, his parents’ alma mater, where he played 12 games and averaged 3.8 points per game.
After a brief hiatus, Scott returned to the court playing for the Calgary men’s basketball team in the 1980-81 season, contributing to the team’s second-place finish in Canada West with a league record of 13-7.
Across his collegiate career, he appeared in 38 regular-season games, scoring a total of 53 points while shooting 81.2% from the free-throw line.
Furthermore, Scott earned his physical and health education degrees from both Queen’s and Calgary University.
His social media displays that he is a former Youth Worker at Children’s Service Center and a former Financial Planner at London Life.
Very little information about their other children is available as they prefer to maintain a private life.
In addition to their four children, left to cherish Jack and Elinor Sisson’s life are their daughter-in-laws Stacey and Liz Garieri, son-in-law Martin Blaser, twelve grandchildren, Bradley Merritt, Gregory Merrit, Mark (Andie McHardy), Amy (Todd Copeland) Blaser, Curtis (Leslie Arnold), Matthew (Chelsey Truscott), Elizabeth (Alex Wing), Alexandra (Ben Naughler), James(Marah Monk), Victoria Sisson, Christopher (Katherine Stefankiewicz) and Katie (Andrew Williamson) Wiggins and seventeen great-grandchildren.
Jack Sisson’s family has organized a funeral service at the Burke Funeral Home, 150 Church St S, Belleville, Ontario, on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Instead of flowers, the Sisson family has requested to donate in memory of the late Jack Sisson to Hospice Quinte or the Dr. Douglas A. Maclntosh Cancer Clinic.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Jack Riddell Sisson was born in Brandon, Manitoba, on March 29, 1928, to mother Hattie Mae Riddell and father Bertrand Harold Sisson.
- He grew up in the Prairies and moved with his family to Peterborough, Ontario, after his father’s new job.
- Jack played for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.
