The saying about honesty being the best policy is nothing new, but it’s rare that someone actually is beloved for telling the total truth.

John “Jack” Mark Iacovelli, who died Tuesday, Sept. 22, was one of those people, according to those who knew him best.

Iacovelli was a math teacher who retired from Sandridge Junior High in 2013. His obituary was one of the most visited items on the Standard-Examiner website the week of Sept. 21.

His obituary said his career included stops at Mount Ogden Junior High, St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, Sandridge Junior High and Weber State University. According to records at the state Office of Education, Iacovelli taught math at St. Joseph’s from 2000 to 2007 and at Sandridge from 2008 to 2013.

“He was a very, very influential in a lot of different people’s lives, including me,” said Chad Loosemore, a history teacher at St. Joseph’s. “He was incredibly unique because he was incredibly honest.”

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Loosemore said it was through his honesty that Iacovelli left his mark on the world.

“At the time, they were kind of put back because you are not used to that,” Loosemore said of students’ initial reactions to Iacovelli. But he said once they got to know him, his students held him in the highest regard.

“He was a great teacher not only for students but for co-workers, friends and family,” the history teacher said.

“He pointed out something that was a major health problem I had not noticed. He got me to go to a doctor and I got there just in time,” Loosemore said. He said that at first it hurt his feelings to hear about the health concerns, but “then it may have saved my life.”

Alex Salvo, vice principal at the school, said Iacovelli was a “very good teacher and a unique individual at the same time.”

He said the math teacher wanted to help the kids and never hesitated to give the extra mile, not only about math but about life too.

And Anneke Petersen, a former counselor at Sandridge, said the math teacher changed her as he worked to improve things for his students.

“He always had something he was thinking about, ways to change things to help students,” Petersen said. “He understood students’ strengths and weaknesses.”

Petersen said the seasoned teacher also was a great mentor for the younger staff.

“He always had that bedside manner,” she said. “He was wise. He was always willing to listen to a situation and offer sound advice.”

She said Iacovelli showed his intelligence by always having a book in his hand but also appeared like the “absent-minded” professor, losing his keys, wallet and coffee cup on occasion.

“He would let you know what he thought,” she said. “He always had a glint in his eye. He was always willing to share.”

Petersen said the moment she remembers best with her friend was when she was getting ready to switch her career to Rocky Mountain Junior High School and she had “cold feet.”

“I’ll never forget what he said. ‘It’s OK. Go ahead and feel your feelings but pack your bags. You are going.'” she said.

“If I had been with him in the last days, that’s something I would have reminded him, just to help him go.”

Weber State University senior psychology student Natasha Orton sent an e-mail about her experience working with Iacovelli. She said in about 2011, she would work alongside him in a math lab tutoring WSU students.

“It was my first semester working as a tutor,” she wrote. “One of my first nights there I was closing. Jack was incredibly kind to me and showed me around.”

Orton said as the time to close drew near, Iacovelli became concerned because she was parked across campus and would have to walk to her car.

She said the instructor asked another female student who was also there late where she had parked.

“Upon finding out that she was headed in the same direction he demanded that she stay until I was off so I wouldn’t have to walk by myself.” Orton said. “That semester every time I worked with him and closed he would make sure someone would walk me to my car. A few times there were no students headed the same direction and in those cases he took it upon himself to walk me to my car to make sure I was safe.”

According to his obituary, Iacovelli was married to Marcia Parisi and had four children. The obituary said he loved playing pool and bridge and golfing with good friends. 

Funeral services for Iacovelli were held Saturday, Saturday, Sept. 26.

Interment was at Ogden Cemetery.

You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @JaNaeFrancisSE or like her on Facebook.