| Graduation Year | Class of 1968 |
| Date of Birth | Feb 06, 1950 |
| Date of Passing | Jun 18, 2023 |
| About | Jack C. Stokes Obituary Jack Claude Stokes, age 73, born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, unexpectedly collapsed on the evening of June 18, 2023 at his home in Briarwood, New York, and died shortly after at Queens Medical Center near his residence. Jack, the son of Jack Stokes, Sr. and Cora Lee (Stephenson) Stokes was born on February 6, 1950. He attended elementary, middle School and High School in Poughkeepsie. At Poughkeepsie High School he excelled academically and played and managed the school’s Basketball team. Basketball was one of Jack’s foremost loves and he continued to play all his life; he was also an early supporter of women’s basketball. Shunning cars, Jack was an avid cyclist, and for decades participated in New York City’s annual Five Boro Bicycle Tour. He also twice rode in the renowned 8 day annual RAGBRAI Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, dipping his front tire in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers at the beginning and end of the ride. Jack loved many sports and you could often find him attending or watching not only basketball but football, tennis, golf, volleyball, soccer and Horse racing (where he proudly witnessed Seattle Slew and Affirmed win Triple Crowns. He was a big fan of the N.Y. Jets and shared in his passion with his nephew Claude, Jr. After High School, Jack attended Long Island University, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor’s in Journalism (in 20008, Jack was honored by LIU as a Distinguished Alumnus). He worked as a stringer for Associated Press while still in college, and was hired by them fulltime upon his graduation; he continued to work for the Associated Press for over 35 years in many capacities ultimately considered as an Executive and Spokesperson for the organization. Jack was a man full of life with many interests. Living in NYC he attended plays, concerts, ballet, opera, etc. He loved going to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, 4th of July fireworks and of course the annual Christmas tree lighting in Rockefeller Center. His favorite NYC restaurant was Seviile in the West Village and introduced the restaurant to many friends and colleagues. Jack loved travel and took full advantage of the cheap airfares such as Freddie Laker in the 70’s and 80’s, taking many trips including to England, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Italy, also Canada and Yucatan & Cozumel in Mexico, His travel lust waned a little when he traveled to Romania later in life, had his passport and IDs stolen and had to spend several additional days working with the State Department to get back home. He was respected and loved by all who knew him in all areas of his live. Often described as optimistic, fun, witty, selfless and caring. Despite living in New York City almost all of his adult life, he visited Poughkeepsie whenever he could where he still had relatives and friends. Jack was preceded in death by immediate family members: his parents Jack Stokes, Sr. and Cora Lee Stokes; his older brother Claude W. Porter Sr. and Claude’s daughter Kim Porter Hanlon; and his younger brother Joseph Nathan Stokes, and Felicia Dickens; and Valtina, Aaron Bowen and Tim Porter. He will be missed by many family & friends including his lifetime friend and companion Lorene Bradshaw; his niece Carlisa Stokes and her daughter Harmony, his nephew Claude W. Porter Jr. and his wife Amanda and their children Lainey and Gavin, and his beloved cat Archie. Funeral Services with Internment will be conducted on Friday, July 14, 2023 at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery Mausoleum chapel at 11:00am. All family and friends are welcome to attend. |
