Remembering John "Jack" Broome, a Tualatin legend!
Remembering John "Jack" Broome, a Tualatin legend. Jack passed peacefully in his sleep on June 17, 2020.
Recollections by Paul Hennon, Former Community Services Director - City of Tualatin:
"Jack was one of my mentors over the years on urban forestry, wetlands, historic preservation, greenways, trails, and park design. While we were in the design process Jack, provided me with his thoughts on the new library design as well.
Jack called me to meet when I first arrived in Tualatin in 1987 to share his insight into Tualatin’s new urban forestry program and he arrived at my office in his orange Volvo station wagon that roamed our roads for so long.
We had many interactions over the years. I learned a lot from Jack and admired his willingness to volunteer for so many causes, including doing the architectural work on the Heritage Center, and personally restoring the 1858 Sweek House (aka Willowbrook) and obtaining its designation on the National Historic Register.
As he did with others, Jack gave me a books from time to time, always with a handwritten note on his letterhead and usually followed by a lunch or short meeting to make sure I understood the salient points and how they related to Tualatin. One book on Frederick Law Olmsted, who is known as the father of American landscape architecture, is one of my favorites.
Jack and I had lunch sitting in the shade by the lake at Hayden's just before I retired so I could thank him for his support and guidance over the years. I invited him and Esther Lev, who was the Executive Director of the Wetlands Conservancy at the time (since retired), and we laughed and enjoyed a little walk down memory lane, and some thoughts on progress still to be made. I've attached a picture from that day that captures Jack's smile that we all know so well - I think I'll print a copy and put it in that Olmsted book along with Jack's note."
Jack W. Broome (right). - Tualatinlife.com
Also, below is a link to an article written about Jack last year by Yvonne Addington, Tualatin’s first city manager, current Director and past President of the Tualatin Historical Society.
