John "Jack" R. Morrison

September 11, 2018

John R. (Jack) Morrison, 77, of Bloomfield, Ct, husband of Elizabeth (Betsy) Morrison, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, the son of the late Gertrude (Guimond) and Roland Morrison. He earned a BBA from Fairfield University and a MSW from Fordham University in 1969. Jack devoted his life to human services. He served as the Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health for the State of Vermont, Director of Children’s Services for Catholic Charities in Baltimore, Maryland, Director of Development and Executive Director for Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. He spent sixteen years in leadership roles with Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Hartford and served as a member of the Institute for Hispanic Family Advisory Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of St. Agnes Home and Operation Fuel. Jack was a fierce advocate for the disadvantaged members of society. He worked tirelessly to establish programs that would offer a better opportunity for the “least among us.” He opened doors through shelters, soup kitchens, early childhood centers, and homes for the afflicted. He wanted everyone in need to have a place to go. During his time with Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., Jack partnered with Mother Teresa on the Gift of Peace project, a hospice home for individuals suffering from AIDS. Jack often spoke of his relationship with the future saint who touched his family’s life deeply and immensely. One of his last projects was the Matthew 25 Scholarship Program which was developed to assist gifted, economically disadvantaged Hartford youth in obtaining a Catholic school education through financial assistance and mentoring support. Jack was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish in Bloomfield where he served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Lazarus Committee and parish council member. He was an avid sports fan, an intense debater of political and social issues, a beach lover and a devoted family man. In addition to his wife, Jack is survived by his children Michael (Elizabeth), Jay, Mary Skowron (David), Teresa Yank (Mike) Matthew (Irina), and Catherine Morrison (Matt); grandchildren Anna, Olivia, Elyssa, Keegan, Christian, Elizabeth, Liam, Lycan, and Sasha; sister Judith Addabbo and sister-in-law Patricia Morrison. The Morrison family is grateful for the exceptional care and compassion shown to Jack this past week by the nurses, staff and doctors at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital and to the Center for Hospice Care of Southeastern Connecticut. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, September 14, 2018, 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Jack’s family will receive friends and family at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford on Thursday, September 13 from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack’s memory may be made to The Matthew 25 Scholarship Program, c/o Catholic Charities, 896 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105-2801 or Birthright of Greater Hartford, 914 Main St. Suite 216, East Hartford, CT 06108.