John Tasker

John Tasker, age 76, a Greenport native, died peacefully here last week. He was a son of the late Madeline Iacovino and New York Supreme Court Justice Henry Tasker.

John was a GHS 1957 graduate. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 1961 with honors and his Master of Arts in 1964 in classics from Brown University. There, he was instrumental in advancing Brown crew from club to varsity sport as manager for three years, and buttressed their “Cinderella Crew” victory at their first-time at the Dad Vail regatta and in numerous subsequent victories. During college summers, John skippered Windigo, a 55 ft. Alden schooner out of Dering Harbor.

Following Brown and his 1965 commission in the U.S. Navy, he served on active duty until 1972 and as a reserve officer until separation in 1978 as lieutenant commander. Duty stations included adjutant to the president of the U.S. Naval War College  in Newport R.I.; destroyer surveillance off the Vietnam coast interdicting NVA/Vietcong infiltrators and Chinese weaponry; communications officer aboard the only nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser; and senior adjutant to the U.S. commodore of NATO’s Atlantic fleet. After the Navy, John spent several years in the steamship business and later had a long career in the antique trade in Manhattan, concentrating later in American Craftsman and mid-century modern works.

Although he had left working on the water, he continued his yachting tradition and led many summer cruises with friends, chartering well-known boats to cruise the Northeast coast. And he was an avid skier in Vail, Colo. several times a year.

His 1975 job move to New York landed him–unwittingly, but fortuitously—in a rent-stabilized Park Avenue apartment where he spent the next 40 years living large. In New York he developed a deep interest in opera, attending over 350 Metropolitan performances. The Ring was his favorite work. Travel and summer time on Sandy Beach were favorite vacations.

He leaves his twin brother, Arthur M. Tasker of Greenport, his beloved sister-in-law Lucia; and his very-special niece Alexandra Tasker Marx, her husband Peter Marx and their son Theo, of Los Angeles. Many cousins, four godchildren and numerous long-time friends also survive. He is sadly missed by his family and friends.

Interment will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 6 at Sterling Cemetery in Greenport in the Tasker family plot, followed by a gathering for all friends and family.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Brown University, Providence, or God’s Love We Deliver.

This is a paid notice.