James Joseph Cronk Sr.

James was born in Peekskill, NY on September 29, 1929, the son of Ida Mae Jenkins and Donald Joseph Cronk. He began working at the age of eight as a newspaper boy for the Peekskill Evening Star. Another job that Jim had early in life was as a pin setter at the Peekskill Bowling Lanes. Later on, Jim worked at the Mohegan Market in Peekskill alongside his dad. He later joined the Grand Union Company where he started out working in the supermarkets and eventually moved to the Grand Union Warehouse in Mt. Kisco, NY where he worked for over 30 years as a produce inspector.

James has always been a very civic minded person. He was very proud to be a long time Republican District Leader and was one of the organizers of the American Patriotism Committee during Desert Storm.

Jim was an active member and past president of the Verplanck Fire Protective Association and was a long-time president of the Verplanck Firemen’s Benevolent Associations. He was a member of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the Westchester County Volunteer Firemen’s Association.

Jim was a past president of the Verplanck Seniors and the Cortlandt Seniors Wednesday group. James was a long-time member of the Westchester County Senior Task Force and was an advocate for clean water and safe boating on the Hudson River.

He was the Executive Director, and president of the Hudson River Boat and Yacht Club Association, meeting at boat and yacht clubs all along Hudson Valley as well as other states including Illinois, Texas, and Hawaii. One of his favorite events was the HRBYCA’s annual BBQ.

James joined his first drum corps at the age of 14 years old. He spent most of his life in drum corps playing the fife and the drum even though he didn’t know how to read music. He was one of the founding members of the Verplanck Fire Department Fife and Drum Corp in the 1960’s. He also belonged to the Knights of Peekskill, Croton-on-Hudson Drum Corp and The Whiskey Rebellion Drum Corp. In his spare time, he was known to jump in and help out any Corp that needed an extra man.

He was predeceased by his wife Marie Madeline Koehler, his son James Joseph Cronk Jr. (Jimmy). He was also predeceased by his parents, his brother Donald Cronk Jr. and his two sisters Marion Harbolic and Ida Mae (Sis) Boulware.

Jim is survived by one son John S. Cronk (Nancy) of Oakland, Florida and his daughter Sharon Morrison (Alan) of Poughquag, NY. He has six grandchildren: Kristin Cronk, Bonnie Cronk, Jacob Morrison, Donald Cronk, Jonathan Daniel Cronk and Miranda Morrison Vazquez along with eight great grandchildren; Tyara Torres-Cronk, Brynja Cronk, Ric Vazquez, Aricin Cronk, Eli Vazquez, Peter Morrison, Chloe Cronk, and Rebecca Grace Morrison. He is also survived by his two brothers Richard (Delores) Cronk, Peekskill, New York and Edward (Marilyn) Cronk, Princeton, New Jersey and many loving nieces and nephews.

Burial services will be private and a memorial service planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.