Obituary of Sean Gerald Jackson

Jackson, Sean Gerald B.A.(Hon.), M.B.A., LL.B - On Tuesday September 22, 2015, at the St. Catharines General Hospital - NHS, at the age of 59 years, died with his wife Jo-Ann and daughter Kailene by his side. Sean's death was his victory march to heaven, following eight years of living while dying with metastatic malignant melanoma. After being diagnosed in 2007, Sean realized that although his work was very important to him, so too was his family. Sean is predeceased by his parents Patricia and Leonard. Jo-Ann is the loyal wife to Sean of 37 years. Kailene is Sean's loving teenage daughter. Brother to Debbie (Michel) Lecavalier-Kellow, Cheryl (Allan) Coates, and Lorraine. Survived by his father-in-law Ralph Boyle, sisters-in-law Linda (Jim) Gouveia and Wendy (Al) Whightman as well as nieces Alisa (John) Foster, Rachel (Mike) Lecavalier-Kellow and Kristy Gouveia. Also survived by aunts Margo Buist, Karen Allen, Connie Allen and several cousins. Sean graduated from the University of Toronto Law School and later moved to the Niagara Region in 1983. After joining Niagara Credit Union, as its corporate lawyer, he became its third Chief Executive Officer. In 2005, Sean became the founding Chief Executive Officer and President of Meridian Credit Union after working tirelessly to grow its branches throughout the province of Ontario. Under Sean's innovative leadership towards outstanding relationship service, Meridian is now the largest credit union in Ontario and the third largest in Canada. His many humanitarian efforts include contributions to many communities of Ontario, especially Niagara and Toronto. Sean was instrumental in the provincial and national credit union systems. Actively involved in his community, Sean was honoured to receive the Gary Gillam Award for Social Responsibility. He was a founding Director of the Niagara Community Foundation. He was also an Advisory Council member for Council of Champions for Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA and Brock University’s Faculty of Business. He previously served as Past Board Chair of Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital. As well, he was Co-Chair of a local Business Promotion Task Force and Vice-Chair of the United Way Campaign. Most recently, Sean was a current Board of Director member and major fundraiser for the Melanoma Network of Canada. He was a proud parishioner of St. Julia Roman Catholic Church and involved with its finance committee along with the Bishop's Finance Council for several years. Jo-Ann and Kailene would like to extend their gratitude to Dr. Joshua and his treatment team at Princess Margaret Cancer Hospital; care teams on Units 3A and 4A of the St. Catharines General Hospital - NHS; and Darryl Nutbrown R.N. from CCAC. Family will receive friends at the George Darte Funeral Home, 585 Carlton Street, on Sunday September 27, 2015, from 2-6 pm and Monday September 28, 2015, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Vigil prayers will be said in the funeral home on Monday at 3:30 pm. Funeral liturgy will be celebrated at St. Julia Roman Catholic Church, 251 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario on Tuesday September 29, 2015, at 11 am with cremation to follow. Memorial donations may be made to Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation or the Melanoma Network of Canada in Sean's honour.