John "Jack" D Hardman

John D. Hardman (“Jack”) passed away on January 8, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Jack was born on November 14, 1939, in Trenton, New Jersey. At age 11, after multiple moves, he and his family settled in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Lakeshore Junior High and Lee High School, graduating in 1957. He earned his B.S. in mathematics and physics from Davidson College and his MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

After graduation, Jack joined Wachovia National Bank, beginning a banking career that would span the next five decades. He was known for the highest level of professionalism and integrity. As a coach and mentor, he developed many future leaders in Jacksonville and beyond. 

Jack was a lifelong learner and strong advocate for public education, serving the St. Johns County School Board as chair of the Audit Committee and the Health Care Advisory Council, among other volunteer positions.

He had a faithful servant’s heart, as evidenced by his many leadership roles at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, and CEC. He was on the CEC vestry and, for many years, on the Finance Committee, while also serving as a Lay Eucharistic Minister and adult acolyte. Jack also helped create a lay pastoral care ministry, Christ Church Cares, and was its first lay leader, guiding and mentoring more than 200 volunteers. Jack also chaired the Episcopal Diocese of Florida’s Finance and Investment Committee for more than 10 years and was the recipient of the Bishop’s Cross in honor of his service to the diocese.

His greatest loves were his wife, Deb, his children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. His fondest memories were of spending time in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming with his daughter and her family, including summers with Deb and their beloved dogs. Jack also was an avid reader who especially loved history, with a library filled with the greats, including Churchill and Civil War anthologies.

He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Deborah Simms Hardman; son, John Hardman; daughter, O’Kelley (Mark) Pearson; grandchildren, Emily Pearson (Jeff), Andrew (Paloma) Pearson, and great-granddaughter, Pietá.

He is pre-deceased by his parents, John Daniel Hardman and Helen Louise Rodarmel Hardman.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on February 20, 2025, at Christ Episcopal Church (CEC),400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, with a reception in the parish hall immediately following the service.

He will be remembered for his kindness, intellectual curiosity, infectious laugh, and generous heart, as well as his love of his family, his church, the Wyoming mountains, politics, Davidson basketball, and chocolate chip cookies.

In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests that donations may be made to Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministries (BEAM), Attn: Development, 850 6th Ave S., Suite 400, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.