Born on 28 December 1911, he died at the age of 92 years on 13 October 2004 after a brief illness. He served in the Regular Australian Army, joining in 1936 and during the Second World War in the 13th Heavy Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, being discharged in 1946. He was an active member of the local RSL.
Jack, as he was universally known, became a Freemason in 1944, being raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason. He belonged to the Merrylands Lodge until the time of his death. Both the RSL and the Lodge sent representatives who participated in Jack’s Funeral.
Jack was by profession a fitter and turner, and did almost all but the brickwork in the building of his home. He undertook some improvements in the house in his old age, but sadly was unable to complete them.
His connection with the Foundation came about through his membership of the South Sydney Junior Rugby League Camera Club, of which Al Rosenstrauss was President for many years. Jack and his wife Eileen participated in many of the activities of the Club, in particular the annual Easter photographic excursions. In 2001, Jack approached Al regarding the possibility of bequeathing his property to the Foundation.
Jack had recently lost his wife Eileen from complications arising from leg ulcers.
At the Presentation Dinner in 2002, Jack was invited to present the grant cheque to Professor Zeinab Khalil, Head of the National Ageing Research Institute in Melbourne, who was researching the use of low frequency electrical stimulation to accelerate wound healing and improve sensory nerve function.
John made his Will bequeathing his entire Estate to the Foundation. He directed that the rents from the property, or the interest derived from any future sale of the property, be applied towards research grants into geriatric diseases (with particular interest in leg ulcers) to be known as the “John and Eileen Haddon Grant”. The Foundation presents an annual award to the recipient.