John Hart Obituary

John Hart CALI, COLOMBIA - John "Jack" Donald Hart, 71, formerly of Charleston, passed away July 21, 2024, in Cali, Colombia from lung cancer. Jack was born in 1953 to Gustavus Wilbur Hart and Roseann Sedlacek Hart. He spent his early youth in Simsbury, CT, where he'll be interred alongside his parents and brother. His family moved to Florida in his later youth, where he graduated high school from Howey Academy in 1971. Jack had an early interest in veterinary medicine, but after fainting during a surgery observation with a local vet, he switched to landscape architecture. He attended Georgia Southwestern College, Mercer University, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1977 with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. Out of college, he worked in planning for the City of Macon. He moved to Charleston, SC in 1980, where he resided for nearly 30 years. Jack worked at Magnolia Gardens, then founded his own design/build practice, Landscapes by Hart. He was a talented landscape architect designing many residential and civic projects in the Charleston area. In 1989, he co-founded Church Creek Nursery on Johns Island with his second wife. Jack was also co-inventor of the BadgeLight- a safety light for police officers. In later life, his interests shifted to the trade of pre-Columbian artifacts which took him to La Jolla, CA, where he opened a small artifacts shop and then to Cali, Colombia. Jack led an adventurous life. Each person along his colorful journey holds a piece of his story. He was a noted expert at his various crafts, be they plants or pots, he loved to learn and found community through his trades. He loved travel, trees, fishing, bagels, and burgers. His character was one of calm persistence and optimism. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Bill Hart, and survived by his third wife, Jaqueline Hart of Cali, Colombia, sisters, Lynn Sullivan of Charleston, SC, Elizabeth "Betty" McEnroe (Paul) of Middletown, RI, brother, Guy Hart (Melissa) of Ithaca, NY, his children, Jason Hart (Elizabeth) of Chapel Hill, NC, Noel Hart (Shazia) of Houston, TX, Melissa Hart, Mathew Hart, and Camilo Zuniga of Cali, Colombia, and grandson, Gus Hart of Chapel Hill, NC. Godspeed, Jack! A private service will be held at the Simsbury Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to [email protected]. Memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society.