John "Jack" Hazley Morris

'Jack' Morris passed away on November 24, 2012 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Paterson, N.J. after complications from melanoma. He was a musician, a singer, a teacher, and an actor. Jack was a wonderful free spirit and had the courage it took to follow his dreams and truly live his life the way he wanted. Friends say "he was committed to living a commitment free life." He was born August 10, 1949 in Jersey City, N.J. to Frank Morris and Helen Hazley Morris. At age 7, Jack had a mishap with an elevator door in his West New York building that caused the amputation of the big toe on his left foot. This accident resulted in Jack being rejected by the Hudson County Draft board in 1967 for service in Viet Nam. He was able to get a refund on a one way ticket to Canada. Jack was a graduate of St. Peter's Prep and St. Peter's College in Jersey City. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. He was a member of the St. Peter's College Glee Club and formed many life long friendships with his classmates. He loved conversation, music, literature, National Public Radio, WNYC, C-Span, movies, and theater. He sang and played guitar, piano, and bass guitar in several folk/rock bands in the New York area. Recently he was the guitarist for the well regarded Jade Louie Quartet, playing traditional Hawaiian music in Honolulu. Jack produced, directed, and performed in a New York City-based musical production inspired by the life of Kurt Cobain. He was a language teacher, fluent in German, and he performed in Off-Broadway Shakespearean plays. He traveled extensively and most recently relocated to New Jersey from Honolulu, HI. Jack's spirit of love and life will be missed. He is survived by his sister, Kathleen Byrne, a nephew, Jonathan Byrne and two nieces, Kimberly and Kelly Byrne. Friends and family of Jack are invited Saturday, December 1st from 1pm to 5pm for an open house/luncheon/celebration of life at Kathleen's home, 12 South Hampton Drive, Fairfield, NJ 07004. Please send an email to: kathybyrne2010@gmail.com if you plan to attend (for the host's headcount). Call 973-575-8199 if you have any questions.