Vannin' Home
Posted By: Astro Jack Durrand "Demon" J - March 25th 2009 6:29 pm
New England Van Council
Mini State
Quote
Jack died 1/14/2000

How does one sum up a persons life in words..... Jack Durand aka "Demon, aka "Papa Jack") lived in Central Falls, RI - a one square mile city that was once the most densely populated square mile in the world (until a place in China took over). It seemed that Jack knew almost everyone and they certainly knew who he was! He ran a video store for many years called "Sparkle City" after the nickname of Central Falls and could always be found in his party room behind the store and his home entertaining anyone that wanted to drop by. There were always people there! As a vanner he took great pride in "Demon's Den" and entered many public shows as well as all the shows at van runs. He was most active in vanning during the 1980's when he attended every New England run. He also started vending at some of the runs towards the end. He was the perfect example of the "Party Animal". I never knew anyone that enjoyed life as much as "Papa Jack" and he always made sure everyone around him was enjoying it too.

Mini State Truckers has changed over the years and its membership has varied too, but there are some of us that have been there for all 23 years the club has existed and others that only stuck around when life was good and we had a large treasury to support free van run attendance and free parties and so on. Jack didn't care about what the club had to offer him, but rather was most interested in just being with those of us that enjoyed vanning and the life that comes with it. I'm glad to have know him as a friend and fellow vanner and wish we had more like him to shore up the sinking ship vanning has become. As long as there are others around that feel about vanning the way that Jack did vanning will never die. I'm sure heaven is a better place to party now that Jack is there - I only hope they can tolerate a "Demon" in their mist.............
Posted By: Slcullen Re: Jack Durrand "Demon" J - December 01st 2019 9:49 pm
Hi... do you have any pictures of his van??
Posted By: newkirkinc1 Re: Jack Durrand "Demon" J - December 09th 2019 7:36 pm
Sorry to hear that.
Posted By: Gary_Benoit Re: Jack Durrand "Demon" J - July 07th 2022 5:28 am
Hi, I knew Jack Durand very well, he was very close friends with my father, Jack Durand as well as his business partner everyone knew as Fish and also the guy who did all the paint and designs Rick Champagne, customized a van for my father called Dragonslayer which to this day I still have a picture of it, I remember Demons Den very well, I also rode in it when I was a kid, I also remember when he sold Demons Den as well as Sparkle City, man those were the years, Jack is forever missed.
© Vannin' Community and Forums