John (‘Jack”) Thomas McArdle, a 55-year former Palisadian, died on January 23. He was 89. He was a resident of Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he moved with his adoring wife Audrey in July 2005 to be near his only brother, Robert Barton McArdle. The two brothers had been exceedingly close and devoted to one another all of their long lives. Jack was a loyal, intensely devoted and loving husband to Audrey N. Smith for 60 years. They raised two sons, Barry of Winchester, Massachusetts, and Tommy of Irving, Texas, whose devotion to their father at a time of his ultimate need reflected his many years of selfless care of them. Both boys have followed their parents’ example in being married for over 25 years and each has three children. Born in Stratford, Ontario, Jack grew up in Stratford, Hollywood and Lakeland, Florida. He and Audrey met in Los Angeles and lived in Pacific Palisades for 55 years. Jack designed and built their family home overlooking the ocean with a breathtaking view from every room. He was incredibly creative and resourceful, always busy with a home improvement project or building furniture, often seen with paint brush or shovel in hand. His grandchildren were the grateful recipients of many of his creations, whether or not they understood what to do with them. He even crafted a cradle for the first grandchild out of wood leftover from Howard Hughes’s Spruce Goose. He tinkered with his beloved 1956 Thunderbird for 50 years and could be seen driving around the Palisades in it with his ever-present hat perched at a jaunty angle. Jack and Audrey played bridge often, enjoyed tennis for many years, being founding members of the Riviera Tennis Club, and were seasoned travelers. He became a Christian at age 88, and ended this life praying with his son. He asked for no funeral, but his family and friends remembered him at his brother Bob’s lake home with stories, tears and a few laughs. He was eulogized as a kind, thoughtful, always generous, selflessly devoted husband, father, brother and friend.
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