John (Jack) H. Ware Jr. died on June 30 at his home at Piper Shores in Scarborough, Maine. Jack was 90 years old.

Jack was a graduate of Phillips Academy Andover, cum laude, class of 1937. Jack was very fond of his years at Phillips Academy, whose motto, “Non Sibi,” means not for one’s self. Jack spent the rest of his life affirming this motto. He was of service to others until the day he passed away.

After Andover, Jack graduated from Yale, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1941. He enrolled in Columbia University Graduate School where he had the great fortune of meeting the love of his life, Jane Dickie, whom he married in 1943. Jack and Jane both served in World War II, Jane in the Navy and Coast Guard, and Jack in the Army Corps of Engineers.

Following Jack’s service in the war, Jack was active as a volunteer at the New Jersey United World Federalists and later became the executive director. The organization was a global citizens’ movement working to create a new world order that could prevent another global war.

In 1950, Jack began working in various publishing ventures, where his ability as a communication expert was put to good use. For much of his career, Jack worked as an executive for Kennedy Sinclaire, an advertising and marketing firm that worked with banks and other institutions involved with trusts and planned giving.

Martha’s Vineyard was home to Jack. Growing up, Jack spent his summers on the Vineyard. Much of that time was spent at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, where he was a renowned sailor. In both 1935 and 1936, Jack was the skipper of the crew that won the Sears Cup, the national junior sailing championship. He served as fleet captain during his college years, and as commodore from 1969-1971.

Jack retired in 1981 and he and Jane moved to the Vineyard full-time. With time on his hands, Jack began to earnestly apply the Non Sibi motto. Jack served on Tisbury’s finance committee from 1981-1983 and again from 1986 to 1989. He was elected to the town of Tisbury board of selectmen for the terms 1983 to 1986. From 1995 to 1998 he chaired the town’s Blue Ribbon committee, which was charged with finding ways to strengthen town government. He was twice the acting executive director of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services; he also served on the board of directors.

One of the accomplishments of which he was most proud was founding the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard. He conceived of the fund as a united fund for the Vineyard, hoping to make it a clearinghouse for donors to contribute to a variety of Vineyard causes in one place. The fund makes annual grants to Island residents, charities, cultural and health care causes. His goal was that this fund would strengthen the quality of Vineyard life forever. In 2007, the Permanent Endowment held $7 million in assets, awarded $172,873 in grants to 53 public and private nonprofit organizations and awarded $152,800 to 54 Island students for academic scholarships.

For his founding of the Permanent Endowment Fund and other community service endeavors, Jack was the proud recipient of the first Spirit of the Vineyard Award, honoring volunteer service to the Island.

Jack and Jane were both active at Grace Episcopal Church where Jack was a senior warden from 1987 to 1991.

In 2001, Jack and Jane moved to Piper Shores on the coast of Maine to be closer to family. Jack quickly went into action in this brand new community, starting the community newsletter, The Piper Shores Log. He was a beloved member of the Piper Shores community.

Jack was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Jane, and son, David. He is survived by his son Peter Ware and his wife, Diane Ware, of Medford, Ore., daughter Kathryn Harris of Falmouth, Maine, granddaughter Amy Carlisle of Falmouth, Maine, grandson Jared Ware of New York, N.Y., and great-granddaughters Avery and Elliott Carlisle of Falmouth, Maine, and great-grandson Jared H. Ware of New York, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1182, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

A service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven on Monday, July 20, at 2 p.m. A reception will follow at the church.