Jack officially retired from CDFG in 2011, but immediately signed on as a retired annuitant. He continued to help with sea otter captures, sea otter counts, oil spill drills and responses, and other projects until October 2022. When he wasn't working on otter and oil spill stuff, he was busy with projects at home, camping and hiking with his family, and traveling, including a trip to New Zealand to visit his cousin, and a rafting trip with friends in 2021. 

Jack started working for the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) just after graduating from Sacramento State College in 1967. He worked as a fisheries biologist for his first 5 years, then as a sea otter biologist for 39 years before retiring in 2011. During his tenure he made significant contributions to the understanding of sea otter biology, population dynamics, and causes of mortality. During his last 20 years (1991-2011), he was part of CDFG's Office of Spill Response (OSPR) where he worked on oil spill preparedness and response. He responded to several large and small oil spills (including Exxon Valdez before OSPR was formed), rescuing countless oiled animals. Many of his co-workers at CDFG and colleagues at other agencies and organizations became life-long friends.