John Richard “Jack” Lund, 94, passed away peacefully into the arms of the Lord on September 11, 2026, in Bellevue, Tennessee, surrounded by his family and caregivers.

Born February 3, 1932, and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Jack was a natural athlete from a young age and excelled in a variety of sports, a talent he continued to develop throughout his life. A graduate of Bassick High School, class of 1949, he was awarded an athletic scholarship for both basketball and baseball to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Jack earned a BA in Industrial Psychology in 1953 and remained in Dallas, entering the workforce as an internal auditor for Atlantic Refining Company. From 1956 to 1958, Jack fulfilled his two-year military obligation by serving in the United States Navy. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Atlantic Refining and to the campus of SMU, where he earned his MBA from the Cox School of Business in 1960.

Not long after his return to Dallas, Jack met the love of his life, Marcia “Kay” McEntire, a stewardess with American Airlines. For Jack and Kay, it was love at first sight, and they were married on September 5, 1959. Over the course of 67 years, they built a wonderful life together, raising their three children in Canton, Wilton, Redding, and Ridgefield, Connecticut. Jack spent 34 of those years working for Union Carbide/First Brands, starting as an entry-level sales rep, earning promotions up to national sales manager, and finishing in brand management, responsible for such major brands as Prestone, STP, Glad, and Simonize.

Jack and Kay retired in 1994 and spent three years looking for a spot in the south that resembled the New England towns they came from. North Carolina’s climate was ideal, and the charm of Pinehurst Village sealed the deal. The parallels between Ridgefield and Pinehurst were remarkable, and they later learned that the same architect had laid out both towns, a comforting coincidence. After building a home in the community of Pinewild, Jack and Kay spent three wonderful decades there, often hosting family and friends, in a retirement highlighted by good health, good times, and many, many rounds of golf.

Jack found much joy with Kay and with great friends on a variety of beautiful courses, but it didn’t take long for him to discover that Pinehurst had more to offer than golf. When introduced to the Senior Games, he realized that with a little extra effort to get himself back into shape, he could play all the sports he had loved so much as a teenager. Before long, Jack found himself the local coordinator for Moore County and up to his eyeballs in competing, organizing, and promoting the Games. He competed in three-on-three basketball, softball, tennis, track and field, and of course senior golf. Organizing the county’s first three-on-three basketball and slow-pitch softball teams was a post-career highlight, and his traveling softball team played together for 17 years, hanging up their hats in 2013 with many gold, silver, and bronze medals won at both the local and state level.

In addition to his personal athletic legacy, many Moore County parents and children will remember Jack for planning, organizing, and supervising the youth basketball program for the Village of Pinehurst, which he ran in the winter months for 20 years, including through the Covid pandemic. In addition to volunteering for multiple U.S. Open Championships, Jack was well known at the Pinehurst Resort as a respected Ranger and Starter for course #5.

Jack was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, beloved by his family. One of the greatest gifts he shared uniquely with each one of them was his passion for sports. He was an incredibly patient and kind coach, and they all tried their best to keep up. Dodgers and Giants fans will truly miss his enthusiasm.

Jack is survived by his wife, Kay; his son, Lance (Maureen); his daughters, Lynn (Billy) and Leslie (Paul); his grandchildren, Caitlin (Dan), Taylor, and Addison; his great-grandchildren, Elouise and Finn; his nephews, John (Joretta), Lenny (Lesley), and Paul (Lori); and Kay’s sister Carole (Jim). He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Ruth; by his sister, Betsy, by his niece, Lisa (Gary): and by Kay’s brother Skip. Jack will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Jack’s memory will live on in the lives of his friends and family, communities he served, and all courts, fields, and courses he played on.