The HDSA Washington State Board Members are excited to announce the 2026 HDSA WA Chapter Team Hope HONOREE (Posthumous) is Jack Clift. He is the father of former board member, Jessica Clift
John Paul Clift was born on Aug. 22, 1957, in Providence, RI. Friends knew him as Jack, while those closest to him called him Jackie or Action Jackson. He passed peacefully on Oct. 13, 2025, in Everett, WA.
Jack was an HD Warrior. He lived with Huntington's Disease (HD), but he never allowed Huntington's to define who he was or how he lived.
He embraced a work-hard, play-hard philosophy. If he wasn't swinging a hammer or pushing a lawnmower, he was heading out of bounds in search of fresh, untouched snow or rollerblading along the Centennial Trail. Doctors didn't always love hearing that he was climbing ladders and painting houses, but Jack had grown up with a paintbrush in his hand. He wasn't about to let a diagnosis dictate his life. HD had been present in Jack's family for generations. His mother lived with HD, as did his grandmother.
Two years before his passing, his daughter made the courageous decision to undergo genetic testing after spending nearly 40 years living with the fear the she might one day develop HD. She learned that she did not carry the gene mutation that causes Huntington's, a life-changing moment that lifted a burden she had carried for most of her life.
Jack and his daughter both participated in Enroll-HD, contributing to research and helping create hope for future generations affected by HD. In one final act of generosity, Jack chose to become a brain donor for HD research, ensuring that even after his passing, he would continue helping others.
His story reminds us that awareness is powerful, knowledge can change lives, and research can change futures.
Above all, Jack believed in the importanct of family. HD was part of Jack's story, but it was never the whole story. He was a warrior. A hard worker. An adventurer. A fighter. He was John. He was Jack. He was Jackie. He was Action Jackson. He was an HD WARRIOR. And most importantly, he was a Dad who left behind a legacy of courage, generosity, resilience, and love.
You can meet Jack's daughter, Jessica at the 2026 HDSA WA Team Hope Walk on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Fort Steilicoom Park in Lakewood. Click here for more information: 2026 Team Hope Walk - Seattle - Campaign
John Paul Clift was born on Aug. 22, 1957, in Providence, RI. Friends knew him as Jack, while those closest to him called him Jackie or Action Jackson. He passed peacefully on Oct. 13, 2025, in Everett, WA.
Jack was an HD Warrior. He lived with Huntington's Disease (HD), but he never allowed Huntington's to define who he was or how he lived.
He embraced a work-hard, play-hard philosophy. If he wasn't swinging a hammer or pushing a lawnmower, he was heading out of bounds in search of fresh, untouched snow or rollerblading along the Centennial Trail. Doctors didn't always love hearing that he was climbing ladders and painting houses, but Jack had grown up with a paintbrush in his hand. He wasn't about to let a diagnosis dictate his life. HD had been present in Jack's family for generations. His mother lived with HD, as did his grandmother.
Two years before his passing, his daughter made the courageous decision to undergo genetic testing after spending nearly 40 years living with the fear the she might one day develop HD. She learned that she did not carry the gene mutation that causes Huntington's, a life-changing moment that lifted a burden she had carried for most of her life.
Jack and his daughter both participated in Enroll-HD, contributing to research and helping create hope for future generations affected by HD. In one final act of generosity, Jack chose to become a brain donor for HD research, ensuring that even after his passing, he would continue helping others.
His story reminds us that awareness is powerful, knowledge can change lives, and research can change futures.
Above all, Jack believed in the importanct of family. HD was part of Jack's story, but it was never the whole story. He was a warrior. A hard worker. An adventurer. A fighter. He was John. He was Jack. He was Jackie. He was Action Jackson. He was an HD WARRIOR. And most importantly, he was a Dad who left behind a legacy of courage, generosity, resilience, and love.
You can meet Jack's daughter, Jessica at the 2026 HDSA WA Team Hope Walk on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Fort Steilicoom Park in Lakewood. Click here for more information: 2026 Team Hope Walk - Seattle - Campaign