Real name John, British born, but moved at the age of five to the US. Jack was of German (paternal) and Russian (maternal) ancestry, his middle name being Gottfried. Jack, a World War Two army veteran, was found dead shortly after being a patient in the Veterans Hospital in San Diego. His death was ruled a suicide. The Mertz family moved to Philadelphia but then settled in Saginaw, Michigan. Jack worked as a mechanic and also as a sign painter. He then built his own car, the Mertz Special, to compete at Indianapolis and other events. Jack had also worked in Texas and California at various times as a building contractor.

Biography last updated 8 Jun 2017