Harry G. Jackson, “Ex” passed away at his home in Mattituck on April 4, 2015. The former long-time Riverhead resident was 82.
He was born in Greenport on July 15, 1932
In 1950, his senior year, he pitched Mattituck High School to the Suffolk County Class B baseball championship. Ex joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1951 and pitched the Coast Guard baseball team to an inter service championship. He spent his service years onboard the cutter USCGC McCulloch WAVP-386 in Boston.
In 1968 he became a New York State Conservation officer. During this time, his favorite pastime was coaching the Riverhead Moose Little League baseball team. He had the pleasure of coaching these young men in the New York State Moose tournament each summer.
After his retirement, Harry and Barbara moved to Gardiners Island to oversee the day to day operations on this remote island. On his return to the mainland, he spent his free time on the water, clamming, scalloping, fishing and duck hunting.
As a long time member and past President of the Riverhead Sportsman Club, Ex treasured the time he spent deer and turkey hunting with family and club members. He cherished his annual trips to Maryland for duck hunting and Maine for deer hunting with friends and family.
He was a long time member of the Riverhead Fire Department and the Eveready Company and was past-president of the East End Surf Fishing Club.
He was predeceased by his great-grandson Landon. He is survived by his wife Barbara of 60 years; children Harry Jr. (Brenda), Steve, and Susan (Joseph); grandchildren Melanie (Bill), Harry III (Noelle), Steve Jr., Lauren (Ryan), Paige and two great grandsons Hunter and Brody.
The family will receive visitors on Friday, April 10 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the DeFriest – Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. A funeral service will be held at the Funeral Home on Saturday, April 11 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ex’s memory may be made to East End Hospice.