Jack Canan, 66, Chief Planner City of Lancaster

While living at the 340 Club, I worked from October 1976 through the end of the second coming at Lancaster's City Hall. My supervisor was Norm Grinager (still at City Hall!). Norm's boss was John McCamant (rumored to be attending the 340 Club reunion next month). John's boss was Jack Canan. They are all three great men. Jack passed this week. John & Jack are in the Bar Room Athlete Hall of Fame (Dart Tossing Wing), as well as being first class beer drinkers, and joke tellers. They honed their storytelling to such a point where either one could shout out a number as in #7 or #45 and the other would break out laughing as they new which joke they would be referring to. I had the pleasure of going fishing with Jack on two occasions. At least that's what he called it "fishing". We went out in a boat in the Susquehanna River and drank beer all day.

Jack Morgan Canan of Rock Hall, Maryland died on April 28, 2008 at University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He was 66.

He was born in Lancaster, PA on June 13, 1941 the son of the late Harry F. and Janet Medlar Canan. He graduated from McCaskey High School class of 1959 and Millersville State College in 1964.

On November 26, 1962 he married S. Louise Emmerich. Mr. Canan worked for the City of Lancaster from April 1960 starting as a planner; he worked his way up to Chief Planner, and was Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development when he left in January of 1990. Mr. Canan worked under Mayors Coe, Monaghan, Scott, Wohlsen, and Morris. He played key roles in many major projects during his employment with the city, among them was the establishment of the City's Historic District; the Walnut/ Chestnut Street extensions to Route 30; the TOPICS Program, which converted a number of City streets to one-way travel; the South Duke Street Lancaster Neighborhood Center; the Southern Market project, transforming the historic market house to offices for the Chamber of Commerce, Visitors Center, and City; the development of Park City Center, Lancaster County's largest regional shopping mall, located within the City of Lancaster; and the establishment of the City's tax abatement program for building renovations, commonly known as LERTA. Mr. Canan was a partner in the consulting firm of McCamant & Canan from 1991 until 1992, he moved to Kent County, Maryland in 1994.

In Kent County, he worked with the County Government for 11 years beginning in 1994 serving on numerous boards and commissions including being a founding member of the Local Management Board. He served as the Interim Economic Development Director and played an active role in the development of the Upper Shore Transit Development Plan. Mr. Canan was responsible for the creation and promotion of the County's Housing Improvement Plan which was responsible for improving the living conditions for over 100 families in Kent County. Most of all, Mr. Canan will be remembered for his unmitigated enthusiasm for providing frank advise to the County Commissioners, State Agencies, and local volunteer boards. He retired in July 1995 from Kent County Government and will also be remembered as an individual who cared deeply for Kent County and its citizens.

His interests were fishing, reading, computer games, chess, and most of all his family especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife he is survived by a son: Jack F. Canan and his wife Annette of Winchester, VA, a daughter: Lori A. Gray of Rock Hall, MD, grandchildren: Ann Marie Moss and Allan C. Moss of Sudlersville, MD, Kobey A. Lewis of Rock Hall, MD, and Maria C. Canan of Winchester, VA, great grandchildren: Mariah A. Alexander, Andrew Alexander, and Zacharey A. Moss.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 2:00 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home 130 Speer Road Chestertown, MD where relatives and friends may call two hours prior to the service (12-2). Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation 1107 Kenilworth Drive Suite 202 Baltimore, MD 21204. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home Chestertown, MD www.fhnfuneralhome.com