Jaco Pastorius
Birth Name: John Francis Pastorius III
Date of Birth: December 1, 1951
Place of Birth: Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Death: September 21, 1987
Place of Death: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Ethnicity:
*father – German, Irish
*mother – Finnish, Swedish, distant Sami
Jaco Pastorius was an American jazz bassist, composer, and producer. He was a solo musician, and also part of jazz fusion group Weather Report.
He was the son of Verna Katarina “Stephanie” (Haapala) and John Francis “Jack” Pastorius II, a musician, singer, and jazz drummer. His family moved to Oakland Park, near Fort Lauderdale, during his childhood.
Jaco is said to have been a descendant of German-American educator, lawyer, poet, public official, and abolitionist Francis Daniel Pastorius, the founder of Germantown, Pennsylvania. It does not appear that Francis was a direct ancestor.
Jaco’s paternal grandfather was John Francis Anthony Pastorius (the son of Francis Joseph “Frank” Pistorius/Pastorius and Winifred/Winnifred “Winnie” Malley/Melley). John was born in Pennsylvania. Jaco’s great-grandfather Francis was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, to German parents, Johann/John Nikolaus/Nicholas Pistorius/Pastorius and Margarethe/Margaret Fritzen. Winifred was born in Coaldale, Pennsylvania, to Irish parents; her father was named Condy Melley.
Jaco’s paternal grandmother was Rose Gertrude Carr (the daughter of John Vincent Carr and Sarah Gertrude “Sadie” Zink). Rose was born in Pennsylvania. John was the son of John Carr and Rose Ann Mahon, whose parents were Irish, with her father having been from County Kildare. Sarah was the daughter of George Zink, who was born in Upper Merion, Pennsylvania, to German parents, and of Mary Jane Mullholland, who was likely the daughter of Irish parents.
Jaco’s maternal grandfather was David Haapala (the son of Antti “Andrew” Olofsson Haapala/Haapalainen and Josephina/Josepana Gustavsdotter Bucht). David was born in Minneosta. Antti was born in Nedersotkamo, Oulu, Finland, the son of Olof Andersson Haapalainen and Caisa Isakdotter Nykänen. Josephina was born in Korpijärvi, Norrbotten, Sweden, the daughter of Gustaf Isaksson Bucht and Maria Cajsa Nilsdotter Oradd. Josephina had ancestors who lived in Finland.
Jaco’s maternal grandmother was Kaisa Eriika Isojärvi (the daughter of Heikki Pekanpoika Isojärvi and Briita Kaisa Jaakontytär Karjalainen). Jaco’s grandmother Kaisa was born in Kuolajärvi, Salla, Lapland, Finland. Heikki was the son of Pekka Ollinpoika Isojärvi and Maria Ollintytär Maajaakkola. Briita was the daughter of Jaakko Jaakonp Karjalainen and Maria Sigfridint Pitkä Tiermas.
Jaco was a second cousin, once removed, of internet personality, writer, director, and animator Dane Boedigheimer. Jaco’s maternal great-grandparents, Antti “Andrew” Olofsson Haapala/Haapalainen and Josephina Gustavsdotter Bucht, were also Dane’s paternal great-great-grandparents.
Sources: Genealogies of Jaco Pastorius – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Jaco Pastorius (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com
Jaco’s paternal grandfather, John Francis Anthony Pastorius, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Possibly Jaco’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Mary Jane Mullholland, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
He was related to YouTuber DaneBoe (https://ethnicelebs.com/dane-boe) through his maternal grandfather David Haapala, who was the brother of Dane’s paternal great-grandfather Oscar Haapala.