John Richard Stamant

home following an extended illness.

Known by his nickname, Jack, he was born July 2, 1941, in Springfield, MA, the son of John

Emil Stamant and Irene Carmel Stamant. He was one of seven children in a loving family that

meant so much to him.

Jack was a graduate of Western New England College and a veteran of the US Air Force,

where he developed his interest in airplanes. While serving in the US Air Force, Jack spent a

year on the island of Shemya at the end of the Aleutian Island chain in the Bering Sea. Upon

his honorable discharge from the US Air Force at the rank of Captain, he worked as an

engineer for his entire career. One of his major projects was the runway expansion at Stewart

International Airport in Newburgh, NY, where he was the Airport Engineer. His training as an

engineer spurred his love of projects. He was known for sketching plans on the closest napkin

or the back or an envelope, working whenever the ideas struck him.

He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Windsor, NY for most of his adult

life, and actively contributed his time, talent and treasure to the church and school

community there. As a St. Joseph’s School volunteer, he worked as a bingo caller many

Sunday nights and was known locally for his entertaining style of calling.

Jack had a passion for music. As a child he sang in variety shows and he played the guitar

whenever he could. Jack played his guitar for nursing home residents, and he loved to

perform.

Jack also had a great interest in trains, motorcycles, and sailboats. He built model train sets

and visited train yards, wherever he found them. For decades, Jack rode motorcycles. His

love of riding with his brother, Bob, took him riding into the Berkshires of Western

Massachusetts and up to the Canadian border. He also rode with his son, Jamie, and his sonin-

law, Charles. Jack created the “Road Rats” motorcycle group to include himself, Bob,

Jamie, and Charles. He even commissioned a piece of art for the group’s motorcycle flags.

He sailed a Sunfish sailboat at his family’s lake cottage and captained a Bristol Cruiser

sailboat on the Hudson River near Newburgh.

He will be remembered as bringing out the best in people which came naturally to him. He

will be missed. Jack loved to talk with anyone. He relished the opportunity to tell others

about his family, and he took great pleasure in socializing with his friends; he enjoyed talking

while sipping a good Manhattan.

In addition to his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, as well as his

brothers, William Gallagher and Robert Stamant, and his sister, Jean Jurek.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Jackie Longino and husband Charles of

Greensboro; son, James Stamant and wife Nicole of Decatur, GA; brother, Edward Gallagher;

sisters, Sister Mary Gallagher and Betty Harkins and husband Fred; sister in law, Jeanne

Pittman; grandchildren, Chase, Brynn and Jack Longino and Henry and Juliette Stamant; and

many nieces and nephews.

The family asks with gratitude that memorials in Jack’s name be made to either Unbound or

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com