Jack Van Dusen: 90 Years Old and Not a Drop Wasted

A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others." 
-- L. Frank Baum

It's not easy standing out in a family like the Van Dusens. They are like tribbles; they are everywhere. In politics. In the media. In the fine arts. Even on stage at local fairs raising money for good causes.

But Jack Van Dusen is no ordinary Van Dusen. He's a trailblazer.

He was the voice of Ottawa anchoring the local news in the early days, with the sidekicks you see in the photo above. He was on Parliament Hill rubbing shoulders with the likes of John George Diefenbaker and making mischief with the relatively small cabal of ink stain wretches who were the first generation to talk to Canadians over the air waves.

After a successful time in the media, Jack had a second career as a public relations guy. That's when I met him sitting at the lunch table at the National Press Club with his brother Tom, the columnist Charles Lynch, Sergeant-at-Arms Gus Cloutier, and Air Canada p.r. boss Hughie Riopelle.

Those were fun times at the NPC fuelled by lots of beer and gossip. Tom and Jack were always at the centre of things, telling jokes and old war stories.

Today, Jack sees his role more as a chronicler of the history of the Van Dusens. He's spent the last few years curating a treasure trove of photos and telling the story of a clan that has influenced this city like no other. He's been sharing these photos on Facebook: the births, the marriages, the parties and the celebrations. There's a story with every picture from Emmett Davis playing the piano to Tom and Shirley hosting garden parties on their Russell, Ontario farm.

Jack's not just a guy stuck in the past. He's also posting photos of the new generation, including the apple of his eye, little Everly who we can see on video and in photos making cupcakes, and twirling in her new frocks.

It never gets old.

Today Jack is celebrating his 90th birthday in isolation, sitting on his favourite perch, holding hands with his best girl, Olive, who continues to be his favourite foil, the Grace Allen to his George Burns.

Their place is still a centre of joy and merriment. Just not in the middle of a pandemic.

The family wanted to throw him a party but a gathering that size might just wipe out the entire city.

So I join his Fan Club virtually today in wishing Jack the very best on his special day.

I'm sure Olive will make it a party.