James A Krauskopf

Jack, as he was known to all, had a diverse career in state and local government, non-profits and academia that held one through line — he was driven to correct social injustice through a commitment to public service. In his jobs and on organizational boards that he served, Jack worked to help government and nonprofits assist families and individuals to improve their physical and social conditions, reduce poverty, and make their communities stronger.

Jack was an undergraduate at Harvard University, where he quickly dropped the idea of being a physics major, and instead received a BA in Government. He then attended the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton. While in graduate school, he joined the Freedom Summer civil rights project in Mississippi to register voters, an experience that deepened his understanding of how organized action might help right social inequities.

At the start of a long career in city and local government, Jack served as an assistant to the chief of New York City’s Human Resources Administration, where he met his future wife Marian. Jack went on to hold leadership positions in government in Newark, Cleveland and the state of Wisconsin, before returning to the Human Resources Administration, where in 1981, he became commissioner under Mayor Ed Koch. For over three years, Jack ran the sprawling citywide agency responsible for deploying many social services to New Yorkers. Driven by a strong moral center, he often grappled with tough - sometimes controversial - decisions, including how and where to locate a new network of shelters for an expanding homeless population.

After his role at HRA, Jack held positions at non-profits, and taught non-profit management and urban policy. Among his roles was chief program officer of 9/11 United Services Group, formed in 2001 to coordinate the many disparate and essential social service organizations assisting people affected by the September 11 World Trade Center attack. He also served as dean of the Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy, and director of the Center for Nonprofit Strategy & Management at Baruch College’s School of Public and International Affairs, the last position he held before he retired.

Jack was born on April 23, 1941 in Fox Point, a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The middle of three adventurous sons of loving parents Janet and Robert, he and his brothers, Bob and Tom, cultivated an impressive menu of interests. For most of his boyhood, Jack eagerly attended a wilderness camp, Camp Horseshoe, run by his uncle Arthur. As a senior at Milwaukee’s Nicolet High school, Jack won a state doubles championship. Ever-curious, he would expand on these pursuits throughout his life. He always loved camping and the outdoors (completing an Outward Bounds Course in his 60s), carpentry (single-handedly building a deck and outdoor staircase at his home upstate), many sports - in particular running (completing the NYC Marathon, also in his 60s) and tennis, architecture (especially Frank Lloyd Wright), astronomy, String Theory, black holes, birds, opera and books (mostly non-fiction and John le Carre).

Jack and Marian, his wife of 53 years, also managed to carve out a rich social life filled with caring friends. Together, they attended theater, movies, concerts and opera, the latter a particular favorite of Jack’s, including countless concerts in Tanglewood, Massachusetts. As a father, Jack was a fervent believer in the potential of his children, with his enthusiastic support ranging from encouraging ideas, ambition and professional pursuits, to his constant presence on the sidelines of scholastic sporting events. He led by example, with his moral compass and clear sense of integrity as the model for his children to emulate. Later in life, Jack was also a devoted grandfather of four grandchildren, with whom he loved spending time, especially in Chatham, NY and on Cape Cod, where he tried to pass along to them his joy for the stars.

Jack was predeceased by his mother, Janet; his father, Robert; and his older brother, Bob. He is survived by his wife, Marian; his brother, Tom (and wife Margie), and brother-in-law Fred (and partner Carol); his son Lewis (and wife Sabrina), daughter Katie (and husband Scott); nieces Nina, Sara (and husband Sean), and Rachel (and husband Joe); nephews David (and wife Rebecca) and Josh; his grandchildren, Elias, August, Vivienne and Tsenat, grand-nephews Joseph, Cameron and Malcolm and grand-nieces Sophie and Sonia.

Information about a memorial service for Jack is forthcoming. Donations may be made in his name to Brotherhood/Sister Sol, United Neighborhood Houses and the Robert S. Krauskopf Award (for journalism) at Brown University.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.riversidememorialchapel.com for the Krauskopf family.