Jack Fonss passed away suddenly at 61 years of age on March 12, 2024.
Jack Fonss
Born on Nov. 18, 1962, in Staten Island, N.Y. to Fredericka and Jack Fonss Sr., he grew up in Jackson, N.J. with horses, dogs and cats. He started riding go-carts at age two, then graduated to a mini-bike and, eventually, a motorcycle, and loved fixing cars his whole life.
Jack enrolled at The Peddie School in the fall of 1976, and quickly became a standout member of the varsity cross country team. While competing for Peddie, Jack dominated most of the events he competed in, winning the State Championship One Mile Run during his junior year.
He transferred to The Lawrenceville School in 1979. While at Lawrenceville, Jack competed in county and state championships, setting records at Blair Academy, Trenton Central High School, and Lawrenceville. He also qualified for the esteemed Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden, where he claimed a state title in 1980. In 2015, Jack was honored in The Lawrenceville School’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
After receiving offers and athletic scholarships from colleges and universities nationwide, Jack’s notable athletic and academic career continued at Princeton University. In 1981, he became Princeton’s first-ever All-American cross country athlete, and from 1981 to 1983, he earned first-team All-Ivy recognition. His 1,500 meter time of 3:43.49 remained a Princeton record for seven years.
Jack graduated from Princeton in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He earned a master’s degree in Public and Private Management from the Yale School of Management in 1993. During his career in financial services, Jack held roles at McKinsey & Company, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, and UBS Securities. In 2011, he became the CEO and co-founder of AccuShares, a financial services technology firm. He later owned and operated a financial technology consulting firm in Connecticut.
At Credit Suisse, Jack met Janet Leung while working together in the derivatives trading group. Despite wide cultural differences between their two families, the pair quickly committed to each other and moved to New Canaan, Conn. in 1999 shortly before they married and had two children.
In addition to his athletic abilities, Jack was a talented amateur photographer, a connoisseur of modern architecture, and an avid reader of economics, mathematical theory, and history. He possessed a unique ability to problem solve, whether it be in the financial markets, machinery, or automobiles. He also had a particular passion for driving sports cars and motorcycles.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife Janet Leung and their children, Maxwell and Ava Fonss. Above all, his greatest joy was his family. In addition to his beloved wife, their children were a boundless source of pride and joy whom Jack loved deeply and unconditionally.
Memorial services will be private. The family would like to express its immense gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of love and support during this incredibly difficult time. They are truly humbled and grateful for the community’s prayers and wishes.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Princeton Athletics “Friends of Track and Field/CC” in Jack’s honor.
Janet our hearts go out to you and your wonderful family. I was so saddened to hear this devastating news. My deepest condolences to you, Maxwell, Ava and the entire Fonss family.
Janet, my heartfelt sympathies are with you and your family during this difficult time.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Janet. It sounds like Jack was a very capable man and a terrific father. May he rest in peace.
Janet, Max and Ava,
I have neither words to express how profoundly saddened I am to hear about this nor any comprehension of what all of you must be feeling. Jack and I worked closely together at Deutsche Bank many years ago, and from that experience, I had nothing but the highest respect for his intelligence, creativity and wit. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Dear Janet, Maxwell and Ava,
We are holding you and your beloved husband and father in the light. We wish you much love, strength and courage at this difficult time.
With much affection, The Allen-Magratten Family
Janet, I’m stunned and saddened to read this. So sorry. I wish you and your family strength and peace going forward.
Words can never sum up the life of a person, but by all accounts these do try and personify the great father and husband that he was. I always loved how you spoke of him and your connection and my heart breaks and aches daily for you. The love and respect for you, Janet, is so real and I do hope that it can take you through some of these very dark moments.
May his memory be an eternal blessing for all whom he loved and loved him.
Janet and Family:
I also offer my condolences to your family. Jack was a man of many talents and loved by his family and friends.
Best wishes to you, during this difficult time.
Jordan
Libby and I are impressed with Jack’s story but our hearts ache with your shocking loss. A huge group of sympathetic friends is here to love and support you and help you find your bearings. There is light at the end of this tunnel.
Janet so profoundly sorry for this news and sending all love and thoughts to you and your entire family.
I am so sorry for your loss. I was Jack’s teammate and friend at Princeton. Distance runners have the great advantage of spending a lot of time with their teammates, and the time I got to spend with Jack on runs around Princeton and on long bus rides to meets are some of the fondest memories I have. And he was just a ferocious athlete, to boot.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Janet. May God give you strength!
Dear Janet, Max and Ava,
The local Chinese community is shocked at your family’s loss. Our hearts go out to you . We send our deepest condolences. Your friends are here to support your family in this time of grief, as you have been there for the community. We wish you strength and peace as you go through this difficult period.
With much love,
Adrian and Pauline Brody
Janet, my friend,
Holding you, Max and Ava in love and grace. The skies are held open for the reception of your lovely Jack, and I wish him God speed on his journey home. You are loved and held by all those who know you, sweet sister. 💔
Dearest Freddie and family
While it is beyond comprehension
“Who knows but that which seems omitted today, waits for tomorrow” The Prophet
His strengths will remain and ultimately lift those he loved with peace and honor
Pat
We will keep all of you in our prayers. May God bless you in these difficult times. I truly enjoyed my times with Jack.
All the best,
Ted, Siobhan, Paula, Edward, and Mary
Janet,
I was so saddened to hear this. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.
Malia
Dearest Freddie, Jack, Janet, Max & Ava,
We are so so sorry for your loss. It’s been an abundant number of years since I saw Jack but he was an amazing child. I used to call him “Chung king”. Can’t remember why but always loved him & his parents our dear friends.
May the memo of him bring smiles to your faces whenever you think of him❤️
I am so sad to hear this news. Jack was a great friend at Yale SOM, an esteemed and valued member of our Rocker Scientists study group. His raw intelligence, intensity and drive, and his wry sense of humor were all something I cherished. I lost touch with Jack as we all got busy with life and saw him rarely, but those reunions were always like old times again. Thoughts and prayers to the family for this tragic loss.
Janet, sending love and sympathy to you and your lovely family .
Kay
Janet, I’m so sorry to hear about Jack. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the children. The Deutche Bank days were some of the best. John
Janet, we are so shocked and saddened at your tragic loss. May God bless and comfort you in this difficult time. We will keep you and your family in our prayers. May Jack rest in peace. -Maribel and Mario DiFiore