STRATTON-CROOKE, James, 90 of Scarsdale, NY, devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, naval officer, industrial engineer, and diplomat, died peacefully at home on May 25, 2019. Jim grew up in New Rochelle, NY and attended Isaac E. Young High School. He was a scholar-athlete and a Boy Scout, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating, Jim attended the US Merchant Marine Academy, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and a commission as a Lieutenant in the US Navy. Jim served as the Chief Engineering Officer on the USS Great Sitkin, an ammunition supply ship. After leaving the Navy, Jim earned a master’s degree in management and industrial engineering from Columbia University. In 1956, Jim met the love of his life, Nancy Anderson. They married later that year and remained married for 63 years, until Jim’s passing. In 1958 Jim discovered his true calling—international development. Jim once again went into public service, joining the US State Department. Jim moved his family to Karachi, Pakistan, where among other things he helped plan a railroad extension from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Jim was then assigned to a position in Egypt, where he planned a telecommunications network between Cairo and Damascus. Jim and family returned to the US, and in 1968, Jim joined the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), where he worked for the remainder of his career. In 1990 he retired as the Director of UNIDO. Under his leadership, industrial improvements were made to nations around the world, helping countless impoverished people. Post-retirement, Jim was devoted to his family and in particular his grandchildren, whom he helped raise, and to his church, St. James the Less in Scarsdale. Jim will be remembered for his integrity, faith, strength of character, generosity, and kindness, and the profound impact that he had on his family, friends, and community will live on for many years to come. He is survived by his wife Nancy, his brother Thomas, his sister Joan, his cousin Edith, his children James, Susan, and Diana (Patrick), his grandchildren Miriam, Eric (Hwi-Won), Pamela, Luke, and Kate, and his great-grandchildren James, Arthur, Ruby, and Andrew. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
A funeral service will be held on Friday June 14, 2019 11AM at St. James The Less Church 10 Church Street Scarsdale NY. Interment to follow at St. James The Less Cemetery.
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