John Howard Fokine died on August 5, 2024 in Yorktown, NY, from complications of a stroke. He was 91 years old.
John was born in Lyon, France to Amy Johnson Fokine and Nicholas Fokine. In 1943, the family immigrated to the United States to escape the occupation of France and the devastation of World War II.
His family settled in Yonkers, NY. John married Susan O’Hara, who currently lives in Greenport. They had five children.
John graduated from Gorton High School, where he was a competitive swimmer and wrestler. He attended New York University and earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering with a specialization in aerospace and control systems.
John worked for many companies throughout his career, including Grumman, Sperry Rand, NASA, and the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Eventually, John became a professional engineer and worked on construction projects in Westchester County and Shelter Island.
John and his second wife, the late Gail Kearns, moved to Shelter Island in 1988 to join their son in the family construction business. John will be remembered by many for his design and engineering talent.
John spent his final years in the care of his eldest daughter, Therese Fokine of Lake Mohegan, New York. He could be seen walking the hills surrounding his home and the streets of Shelter Island.
John’s interests in his early years included mentoring the Boy Scouts of Troop No. 4 in Yonkers, which many later Fokine boys joined, and active membership in the Hudson River Sloop Club. He worked with Pete Seeger on the construction of two river sloops, the Woody Guthrie and the Sojourner Truth.
John mentored youth at the Big Brothers Association. He volunteered with Habitat For Humanity in North Carolina. He was a strong advocate for health and fitness. Whether it was swimming, skiing, gardening, biking, running, scuba diving, or just living a healthy life, he encouraged others by his living example.
His greatest love, however, was hiking, especially in the mountains and valleys of the Adirondacks, which he called “God’s country.” His children remember being carried on his shoulders up some of New York’s highest mountains.
John was an avid reader of politics, history, conservation, and religion, and loved to passionately debate almost anything.
He is survived by his brothers Michael Fokine and Charles Fokine of North Carolina, his sister Denise (Scott Margolis) Fokine, and his sister-in-law Ann Charlotte Fokine of Sweden. He was predeceased by his brothers Theodore Fokine, Alain Fokine, Peter Fokine, and Kenneth Fokine.
He is survived by his five children: Therese Fokine of Mohegan Lake, Suzzanne (Frazer Dougherty) Fokine of Edmonds, Washington, Christian (Heidi) Fokine of Shelter Island, Aimee Fokine Mareneck of New York City and Shelter Island, and Timothy (Meghan) Fokine of Rockford, Ohio, 14 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
John’s good-natured character, his calmness and his winning smile will be missed by all who knew and loved him. John is free to play in the Lord’s fields.
A memorial service is planned for fall 2024.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the Adirondack Mountain Club: Adirondack Mountain Club, 494 Maple Avenue, Suite 1, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
