On May 6, 2021, John Leonard Yurish (Jack), of Canaan, NY, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather was called home to God.

Jack was born on October 9, 1935 in Pittston, PA to John and Ann Yurish. He grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Brooklyn, NY after high school.   He attended Fordham University on a football scholarship where he earned his degree in Sociology.  While at Fordham he enrolled in ROTC and completed officers training. Jack served in the United States Marine Corp (USMC) from 1957 to 1963.

He met the love of his life, Emma Bridget Brennan on her 18 ^th birthday at John's Ice Cream Parlor in Brooklyn, NY.  They were married in the "Lady Chapel" at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC on December 15, 1956.

Jack began his early career at Western Electric (AT&T). In 1965 he earned his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He worked at the American Management Association, ITT and Hertz, where he held increasingly responsible positions in human resource management and organizational development.  In 1981 Jack founded J.L. Yurish Associates, an international management consulting firm, specializing in strategic planning, organizational change and executive development. In 1987 he joined National Car Rental as Executive Vice President. In 1993 he played an instrumental role in developing Women Unlimited, Inc. a corporate mentoring, education, and networking company.  He continued to work with WUI until recently.

Two keys to Jack's professional success were his gift of storytelling and his ability to command a room. He had a quick wit and loved puns of all kinds (there are no "bad" puns).  He was goal oriented and often was known to say "How do you know if you've gotten where you want to go if you don't have a road map". Throughout the years many family, friends and colleagues sought out Jack for his wise counsel and advice.

A life-long learner, he enjoyed reading books on leadership, management strategies, spirituality, autobiographies and military/espionage novels. Jack enjoyed painting, photography and eating anything that Emma made – especially her apple pie.

Jack loved the great outdoors.   He was an avid gardener and spent hours tending to the myriad of flowers and the vegetable garden.  He enjoyed running, hiking and rides on his motorcycle with Emma or one of his kids riding on the back.    A life-long football and baseball fan, he imparted his love of sports to all his children.   He was a NY Giants and NY Yankee fan.

Family life was at the heart of Jack's world.  Of all his accomplishments, he was most proud of his children and grandchildren and was happiest when all of them were under one roof. He enjoyed watching his children grow up in White Plains, NY and he relished the two week vacation the family took on Long Beach Island, NJ. Many wonderful memories were created in both places.

He faithfully served his church community at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Chatham, NY where he was an active member of the church board.  He also sang in the choir.

Jack is survived by his wife Emma; five sons: Michael (Marcia Arvanitidis), John, Peter (Susan Kaiser), Stephen (Diane Hilfiker), Matthew (Jeannie Dzubak); two daughters: Anne (Christopher McGovern) and Ellen; ten grandchildren: Lauren, Craig, Andrew, Hollis, Katie, Grace, Sarah, Avalon, Thomas and Hannah, and one great grandchild, James McGovern.

A private family viewing will be at Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham, NY. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 129 Hudson Street, Chatham, NY, at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a donation in Jack's name to one of the following: The Pancreatic Center at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (https://columbiasurgery.org/pancreas/how-you-can-help-us-make-difference) or The Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene County (www.communityhospice.org).