Theodor Frederick Stoerker

Theodor Frederick Stoerker (Rick) was born on October 10, 1944 in Pittsburgh, PA. He died on February 16, 2026 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the son of the late Roberta Tucker Stoerker Clair and the late Theodor Stoerker.

From 1963 to 1967, Rick served in the Coast Guard as part of the International Ice Patrol, flying out of Argentia, Newfoundland. From the back of C-130s — "his bird," as he called them — and over the stark beauty of Greenland, he and his Coast Guard buddies dropped darts onto glaciers to measure the depth of the ice, work that combined his precise thinking with his love of flight and frozen landscapes. The exhilarating rush of those missions and watching icebergs drift through the North Atlantic stayed with him for the rest of his life and ignited a lifelong passion for both aviation and natural wonders.

In 1967, Rick shipped his motorcycle to England and traveled across Europe, exploring new cities and cultures independently and with a free spirit. He met lifelong friends and his curiosity about the world would remain a defining thread throughout his life. Mountains and valleys, ice and snow were the backdrop of many adventures. In recent years, he delighted in journeys to Switzerland, Alaska, and Norway.

Rick graduated with a B.A. from American International College (1970) and an M.Ed. from Springfield College (1972) with majors in student personnel services and counseling. He served as an Admission Officer at five colleges on the east coast, including: Wesley College in Dover, DE; Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY; Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT; New England College in Henniker, NH; and Bay Path College in Longmeadow, MA. He was also employed for five years by the Council on Aging in Westfield, MA.

Vermont was truly in Rick's blood. For several decades, he lovingly cared for Crooked Path, the family's cottage on Thompson's Point in Charlotte, where the rolling Green and Adirondack Mountains and the beauty of Lake Champlain were his sanctuary. There he found deep joy in motorboating, time with family, and the peaceful rhythm of lake life.

Rick’s skills as a master wood craftsman were exceptional. Adirondack chairs, flower boxes, tables, and cutting boards crafted with patience and love were gifted generously to those he cherished. In his final years, he built more than 12 Adirondack chairs for friends in Ohio, Indiana and Vermont, and six flower boxes for Crooked Path. Future generations will gather on the front bluff of the cottage and revel in unparalleled sunsets framed by red geraniums, because of him.

Rick was a man of wide-ranging passions. His love of music knew no boundaries — one moment kitchen dancing to The Cars, the next swept up in the elegance of Frank Sinatra, or the majesty of Widor's Toccata, played always on the best speakers he could buy. When he wasn't feeding his soul with music, he was feeding his family at the grill, where his philosophy was simple: if it was meat, it was on the menu. And no dinner was truly complete without the grand finale — a bowl of ice cream, preferably Häagen Dazs Rum Raisin or chocolate mocha — or better yet, something homemade with Uncle Tuck's guidance and approval. It’s a combination that perfectly captured Rick: a man with bold tastes, a generous spirit, and an unmistakable flair for savoring the good things in life.

As the son and grandson of Protestant ministers, Rick carried a deep and abiding faith throughout his life. He held lifelong membership in Methodist and United Church of Christ churches, and in Fort Wayne he was active at Plymouth UCC as a deacon and member of several committees. He also volunteered with YWCA and with Study Connection, a Fort Wayne Community Schools program, tutoring young children. In recent years, he became extraordinarily close to an auxiliary men’s group with whom he shared openly about the gifts and challenges of life. Their bond, rooted in strong faith and genuine vulnerability, brought him profound companionship and joy.

Rick's commitment to social justice was both thoughtful and tireless. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was involved with the organization Beyond War, working as a passionate peace activist. Throughout his life, he remained politically engaged, supporting candidates and causes in which he believed. Friends knew him as part of the "resistance" — a man who stood firmly for his convictions and worked toward a more just world.

Beyond any profound life experiences, Rick's greatest joy and deepest love were his family. His devotion to his wife Jane and his daughters Jennifer and Kimberly was the quiet center of his life — a love that was constant and woven into everything he did. His mother Roberta shaped the man he became, and her influence never left him.

In the end, it was the people he loved most who gave his life its fullest meaning.

Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Jane Bunt McGraw; daughters Jennifer (Jonathan) Scott and Kimberly Stoerker; grandchildren Gretchen, Oliver and Adaline Scott; and sisters Holly Stoerker and Joy (John Martin) Stoerker. He had significant and meaningful relationships with aunts and uncles Susan and Bob Tucker and Theo and Charley Hart; and cousins Cathy (Toby), Bonnie, Chad, Rob (Ed), Carol, Sherri, and Patty.

A celebration of Rick's life will be held at Plymouth United Church of Christ, 501 West Berry Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, on Saturday, April 4th. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. Memorial gifts may be made out to Plymouth Church, care of Stoerker Memorial, in support of the Richard Hess Peace Studies Scholarship.

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