Ernest Leroy Sloan

Ernest Leroy Sloan, formerly of Peconic Landing in Greenport, died May 6 at the home of his daughter Romi in Southampton, where he had been living, after a long illness. He was 74.

Known as Lee, Mr. Sloan was born March 2, 1936, in Oilton, Okla. to Earnest and Edna Sloan. The family moved to Watsonville, Calif., where he graduated from Watsonville High School in 1954. He joined the Army in 1955 and served as a paratrooper with the 101st airborne division in Germany.

Mr. Sloan went to Sacramento State College and Michigan State University, where he earned his Ph.D. in sociology in 1966. He taught at Florida State University, the University of Hawaii and Brooklyn College.

An expert on race relations and urban violence, he served on the federal commission that investigated the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.

After leaving his teaching career, he founded with colleagues the Center for Policy Research in New York City in the late 1970s. He held positions with law and banking firms, including Chadbourne Park and the Bank of Boston/Credit Suisse.

Mr. Sloan had a lifelong passion for jazz. He also enjoyed hiking, American political history, nature photography, northern California, traveling and cooking. “He was always up for a game of cards, which he usually won, and could tell a tall tale with the best of them,” according to his family.

Mr. Sloan met his first wife, Marylou Williamson, in college. They had three children. Their marriage ended in divorce. His later marriage to Lois Gudeon ended in divorce.

Mr. Sloan is survived by his daughters Theresa, of Las Vegas, Nevada, Kelly, of Sonning Common, England and Romi, of Southampton; his brother, Richard, of Albuquerque, N.M.; and four grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be sent to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 or Jazz at Lincoln Center.