John David Hadfield (Hill 1944)
13 May 1927 – 5 November 2024
St John’s College announces with great sadness the passing of our oldest Old Johannian.
John David (Jack) Hadfield passed away early on Tuesday morning, 5 November 2024, eighty years after he had matriculated from the College.
Jack Hadfield was at school during the tough World War II years when South African society became aware of social problems in Johannesburg and the rest of the country.
After Trevor Huddleston visited St John’s and addressed the boys, Jack heard the CR priest’s call for help. Together with three other boys, he took over teaching at the ‘Native Night School’, teaching English and Mathematics. Jack Hadfield was the last surviving member of this 1940s venture, which provided education for township boys who were unable to attend school.
Jack also served on the Debating Society committee and was made a House Prefect of Hill House in his final year.
It was, however, as an athlete that Jack excelled. He remained unbeaten in the 440-yard and 880-yard races, and his College record for the 880-yard time of 2 minutes 9.6 seconds still stands (After decimalisation in 1961, this record could not be broken). Jack also usually triumphed in the 1-mile race at athletics and regularly helped St John’s College win at the triangular meetings between St John’s, KES and Pretoria Boys’ High School.
After matriculating, Jack became an articled clerk at Deloitte's accounting firm. He married Penny in 1951 and left Deloitte in 1952. Jack then joined Douglas Louw in Johannesburg and became a partner in that firm. This firm merged with ever larger firms and eventually became Ernst and Young. Jack retired from Ernst and Young in 1992. His primary focus was providing audit services for mining houses.
Jack Hadfield was a man of deep faith and a stalwart member of the St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Sunninghill. When St Stephen’s upgraded the sanctuary in 2020, the Hadfields were significant benefactors.
Previously, Jack and Penny had been members of St Michael’s in Bryanston. Jack loved singing and often sang with the OJ Choir under Noel Iverson and David Brereton. In his latter years, he could not resist singing the Lord’s Prayer when the priest went to give him communion at home. Jack managed to attend the Good Friday service this year, nearly lasting the full three hours.
Jack loved an evening with friends, sharing stories over a good whiskey. Until the end of his life, he still called Penny ‘me darling’. At church, he was known for his love of telling stories and being a proud Johannian.
In 2023, Jack Hadfield was identified as the oldest Johannian. This was significant, as St John’s College was celebrating its 125 years of existence. Zelda Siphenuka, OJA Organiser and Jenni Millward, College Archivist, paid the Hadfields a visit. They were entranced by the close bond between Penny and Jack and their self-effacing and kindly welcome. Jack made the coffee, and Penny baked the scones. It was indisputable that they were a team. Jack and Penny would have celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary on 17 November this year.
John David Hadfield’s legacy lives on with three generations of Hadfields: sons David Hadfield OBE (Alston 1969), and Dr Michael Hadfield (Alston 1973), and grandson Dr Nicholas Hoernle (Clarke 2009), a top academic. All of them gained first-class Matric certificates.
Jack leaves a loving family – his wife Penny, children David, Susan, Michael and Fiona, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The St John’s College community extends its sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers to Jack’s family.
A requiem mass will be held at St Stephen’s Church, Sunninghill, at 11h00 on Friday, 29 November 2024, to honour Jack’s life.
