Posted by Henning Everett Drugge on May 3, 2018:

Memorial Article for John V. Craig, Cullum No. 19947, Class of 1954, United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. Jack V. Craig born on October 10, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York was one of few class members who entered West Point at the early age of 17. In Beast Barracks he roomed with Richard Youngflesh and the two of them became close friends, Jack the comedian and Dick the straight man. They were assigned to Company F2 located in "The Lost Fifties," a new barracks built next to the Gymnasium where Tactical Officers, it was thought, would seldom check the decorum after hours. However, the officer assigned to these barracks became known as "The Owl" and minimal infraction garnered demerits that would put them both walking the area in their senior year. A rollicking good time was had frequently. As fate would have it, they managed to be assigned together to guide the incoming cadets for Beast Barracks by Jack and Dick, as they planned tricks to be played on the plebes the following day. They may have initiated the command "Ricochet your neck off your backbone." Nevertheless, they brought their squad through the rigors of learning the basics of soldiering with flying colors bestowed on their squad at the end of Beast Barracks. At graduation Jack entered the Signal Corps and after branch training served first at Fort Riley, KS, and then Germany. He married Marge immediately before moving to Germany where they had a great tour. Jack had dated Marge at West Point and she was his date at Graduation Hop in Cullum Hall. Jack left the Army at the end of his commitment and joined the New York Telephone Company in which he served until retiring in 1985. A short stint with AT&T was included in his earlier years. Jack served in a number of management positions in the New York Telephone Company and lived in Brooklyn, NY the entire time. Jack and Marge had a condo in Sarasota, FL, and life involved regular trips to Florida as well as hosting F2 gatherings for those who lived close to the City. One of his company mates described him as a solid Irish man with a great sense of humor. At the Company F2 parties, he would write an introduction to the gathering noting many of the foibles of his company mates. He was always there for a good laugh. Jack and Marge had a good life centered about all the people whom they met and had relationships with during their many years in Brooklyn and in Sarasota. One of Jack and MargeA-A?A1/2s closet friends, Arthur and Phyllis Sirkis, who travelled with them to the British Isles described Jack as being able to find humor in almost anything. Shortly after he missed the 60th reunion at West Point Phyllis called, Jack answered and she asked how he was. He proceeded to list one health problem after another and they started laughing so hard because the list went on and on and the more he laughingly pointed out parts not working properly the more they laughed because very little was normal. What a great guy that he was able to joke about himself even though he had so many health problems. Also, Jack and Marge knew Bill Ovberg and his wife through mutual friends, Arthur and Phyllis Sirkis who were all classmates. After Jack retired they would meet once in a while for dinner. However, Jack and Bill would talk on the phone, sometimes for hours, and laughing and carrying on. According to Bill, it was good for whatever ailed you. Jack had many physical problems that he liked to talk about and that they laughed about. He always had an optimistic attitude and a smile in his voice. He believed that "You are what you eat" and he ate accordingly. He made lite of his infirmities and met his physical challenges with a smile. He was a true, loyal, and interesting friend. He will be missed. Jack died on November 21, 2014 in a hospital in Brooklyn, NY, shortly after suffering a stroke during dinner at one of his favorite restaurants. A memorial service was held in Brooklyn on November 25th and a funeral mass and interment on November 26, 2014. He is survived by his wife of sixty years. They had no children.

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