Jack Chisum - SFR Volunteer announcer for road racing events for many, many years passed away quietly in his sleep on August 8, 2007

John F Chisum, 73

Jack Chisum, long-time resident of Santa Rosa, California, passed peacefully into the life eternal on August 8, 2007. Jack was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and moved with his family to the Bay Area as a young child. Jack was a 1951 graduate of Washington High School in San Francisco and a 1957 graduate of San Francisco City College. He served his country in the US Navy and saw tours of duty in both Korea and Vietnam. Jack worked for many years as a civil engineer for JH Pomeroy and Santa Fe International and held posts in California, Iran, Okinawa, and Singapore. Next to his family, Jack’s love was auto racing and he was an active member of the San Francisco Region of the Sports Car Club of America throughout his life. He announced his final race at Thunderhill Raceway in July. Jack is now reunited with his beloved wife Fran of 30 years. 

He is survived in this life by his children, Colleen, David, Didi, Mike, and John; grandchildren, Steven, Jacob, Michel, Douglas, Eric, Joshua, Jordan, Morgan, Savannah, Emily, Katerina, Kayla, and Haley; siblings Georgie, Bill, Flo, and Hortie; his truly devoted neighbors; and countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Services are being arranged for the week of August 19 at the Neptune Society in Santa Rosa.
So long race fans….it was a great ride!!

 Dear SCCA Family,
 
On behalf of Jack, Fran and all of their extended family, I want to thank you for all the great times and memories that Jack and Fran enjoyed with you over the years.  After Fran passed, the time Jack spent at the track became even more important to him.  When he spoke of you, he would say, "wonderful, wonderful people."  Your love and support of him meant more to him than you will ever understand this side of heaven. 
 
Pop and Fran are now joined together in God's eternal embrace.  I know that all of us will miss them, and that each one of us has a special moment or memory that will always bring a smile to our face. 
 
When a loved one passes, there is so much to do and think about.  Please forgive us for a mis-communication regarding his memorial service.  Pop wished to be cremated, and have his ashes scattered at sea, near Fran, who he loved so much.  We will follow those wishes- but first-we will have a chance to say good by.
 
Please join us for a brief, informal memorial service at the Neptune Society located at 2607 Santa Rosa Ave in Santa Rosa Ca.  We will gather on August 22, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.  Everyone who knew and loved our parents are welcome to attend, and we look forward to meeting each of you.
 
We'll be in California soon, we hope all of you will join us, not  to say goodby, but to send up a cheer as Jack and Fran take their last victory lap.
 
Mike Chisum
Jack's Son

Dear SCCA Members,

My friend Jack is so cherished, in my heart, that it will take me a long time to put it into words—though hopefully not that long for you to read it.

My friend Jack taught me how to drive when he had no business doing it—I was WAY under-aged in Singapore--because I had made off with his wife’s car in the night for a joy-ride and done damage to it.

My friend Jack presented me with a wrapped, framed plaque the following Christmas with each piece of the car that I had knocked off, on a grey, satin background (the car was grey), with a calligraphy plaque that said,  “As you drive through life—no matter what it has in store…keep one eye on the gate post………And the other on the door.”

My friend Jack loved my mother, Fran, with all of his heart—as I only really realized when my brother and I were there with him for the last week of her life.  I will always be grateful for his love for her and will always be sorry for my not understanding it before.

My friend Jack loved being a part of SCCA and loved you guys more than you can ever know.  From driving Porsches, to Augie Pabst sinking rental cars, to flagging in that hideous, checkered-flag shirt, to him announcing the “Hoosier, Mama’s Pizza Car”, he loved SCCA and loved you folks.

I want each and every one of you to know how very blessed I am for all of the joy, friendship and family you have been to Mom and Jack through all of these years. 

I know they would each say the same thing.

Thank you,
David Britt
Jack’s Stepson
Fran’s Son

Mon.  08/13/07

Great big extended family,
 
As known by now Mr. John F. Chisum better known as "Jack" has passed away. My name is John Britt and my wife Jolene and I were volunteers in the mid 90s. Jack was my step father and Fran was my mother. I am writing this to express my gratitude to you all... Jacks' friends and true family. The SCCA family that knew my parents and provided both Mom and Jack with love and happiness. Your organization is comprised of the best people on Earth! Volunteers and employees alike form an organization in the true interest of fun and friendship. Once again you all receive my sincere thanks for bringing joy to my parents. You are true family of mine..
 
Regretfully I must inform you Jacks" wishes for no memorial service. Jack is survived by 2 beautiful daughters Coleen and Dorothy and son Michael. They will need all of your thoughts and prayers as they deal with the loss of Dad. He and Mom both requested no fanfair , they were to be cremated and they were laid to rest off the Marin headlands by the Neptune Soc. In my mind he and Mom have taken up pole position in that  "multi-colored congo line" of life.
   
 With best wishes to all,
 John Britt and family 

 This is so hard for me to write, to say goodbye to my Daddy.  But I must and I must say thank you to each and every one of you who also loved my Dad and cared deeply for him, especially during this past year and half since Fran passed away.  I know it was the deep friendships he had with all of you and the love of racing that kept him going during that time.  He loved going to the races and announcing and he always told us when he returned from the latest gig how nice everyone was; making sure he got some delicious food and how everyone made a point of coming up to him and saying hello.  It meant the world to him.  He and Fran are now back together, where they belong.  And those of us left here on earth can smile at the picture of them together, waving the flag for all eternity.  Daddy, I love you and will miss you deeply.  Love always, your Magoo.
 
Colleen Chisum Hayes

In  the late 50's and the 60's Jack was Chief Starter for the SFR along with Andy Anderson.  He was known for his acrobatic jumps and his fancy flag work. He even raced in a small production class. He spent many years working in the oil fields in Saudi Arabia and became an announcer on his return to the Bay Area in the 80's. 

Dear Racing Fans,
It is with mixed feelings that I write to all of you.  I am so very sorry to say goodbye to my Dad but so very happy that he had you all as part of his racing family.  Racing was so very dear to his heart and we all loved hearing his stories each time he came home from another adventure.  My brothers and sister and I haven't decided exactly what will happen but will certainly let all of you know when we do. 

In the meantime though, know that we cannot, nor can Dad, thank you all enough for your love, care, concern over these many years.  I can only imagine him in heaven, with a checkered flag in hand saying "Drivers, start your engines!".  Ok, I probably got that wrong because I never did understand exactly what it was he did... the checkered flag was at the end, wasn't it?  Needless to say, he is reunited now with his beloved Fran and together I am sure they send you all their love.

With Much Appreciation,
Dorothy Saewert (aka, Didi Chisum)

I am Jack Chisum’s brother, and my wife and I would like to thank all of the racing community with whom Jack had contact with over the many years that he announced. You were truly his 2nd family and he loved the many hours he spent with you, both the working hours and as well as the fun hours. 

I will certainly miss him and I know that there will be a voice missing at future races.  Once again thanks to each of you for being such good friends to Jack, especially during the past 1½ years since the passing of his wife Fran. They are together now both having taken the checkered flag.

Sincerely,
Bill  & Isobel Chisum 

God Speed, Jack. Claudia and I will miss hearing your voice from above telling us to get to the grid.
Bob and Claudia Mcgrew

Email The Web Team to pass along your memories of Jack and we will post them here.