J. D. (Jack) Perrin, Jr.

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John Draper Perrin, Jr. (1915 - 1992) Athlete, entertainer, naval officer, farmer, businessman, bon vivant. "Jack" as he was commonly known, was born on March 27, 1915 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of J. D. Perrin, Sr. and Ruth Taylor Litle. Educated in the primary grades at public schools in Winnipeg, he attended St. Andrew’s College (Aurora, Ontario) from 1928-34. A gifted athlete, he excelled at many sports including swimming, diving, lacrosse, squash racquets, golf and football. He played on St. Andrew's First Hockey for four years and, following in the footsteps of His Excellency The Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey, Governor-General of Canada, served as the Highland Cadet Corps Commanding Officer in his final year 1933 - 34.

After graduation he studied mining engineering at the Universities of Manitoba and McGill where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He played Varsity Hockey for both the University of Manitoba Bisons and the McGill University Redmen, developing a reputation as a rushing (and goal-scoring) defenceman. Published sports stories often referred to him as "Mighty Perrin". He earned a university Letter at the University of Manitoba. Perrin also played junior hockey and football in Winnipeg.

Perrin's studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Beginning in early 1940 he served as a volunteer in the Royal Navy on British destroyers HMS Holderness and HMS Termagant. Based at Sheerness, Scappa Flow, and Alexandria, Egypt, he saw action in the North Atlantic, the North Sea and later in the Mediterranean. His ships were mentioned in despatches, sinking Nazi U-Boats, and took part in the invasions of Sicily and Italy. Jack was among the group of Allied officers granted the first Allied forces audience with the Pope following the liberation of Rome.

Jack Perrin took his Royal Navy basic training as an Ordinary Seaman (rank) in England at HMS Raleigh, which made him a "Canadian Raleighite" along with notables such as the late Hon. John P. Robarts, former Premier of Ontario. At war's end, in 1945, he was discharged with the rank of Lieutenant (RCNVR). He was awarded The 1939 - 45 Star, The Atlantic Star, The Italy Star, The Defence Medal, The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, and The War Medal 1939 - 45.

After the war for a time he pursued an acting, singing and broadcasting career in London, England where he appeared in stage productions in the West End and in a couple of movies, performed as a club singer with Sid Lipton's Grosvenor House Band, and hosted a late night BBC radio programme. Interestingly, he lived in a London flat with neighbours Lawrence Olivier and Vivian Leigh (who were living together at the time). The individual who suggested he pursue a show business career was a navy buddy, Robert Newton, later famous in the role of pirate Long John Silver.

Returning home to Winnipeg in 1948, he was elected a director of the San Antonio Gold Mine Limited (of which his father was President), established in 1955 (with his father) the Winnipeg Warriors (minor pro) Hockey Club of the old Western Hockey League (minor pro) and a junior club, the Winnipeg Braves. As Vice-President and General Manager, Jack led the Warriors to the national minor-professional championship in 1955-56, and the Braves are to this day the last Winnipeg-based junior club to have won the Memorial Cup (in 1958 -1959). During this period, Jack also owned and supervised the operations of Winnipeg's venerable Olympic Rink. Perrin was inducted during his lifetime into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in October 1990 and posthumously into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, in connection with the 1959 Winnipeg Braves.

In 1979 his family company purchased The Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg over which he presided until 1987. Jack married Nancy Suzanne McKay of Winnipeg in 1949 and together they had three children, John Draper III, Suzanne Ruth and Marshall McKay, and four grandchildren. Jack Perrin died November 19, 1992.