John Stuppin
September 8, 1933 - November 29, 2022
The eighty-nine year long, coast to coast journey of John “Jack” Stuppin ended at home, exactly where he wanted to be, on November 29, 2022. The story began on September 8, 1933 with his birth in Yonkers, New York to Alexander and Sophie Stuppin.
He attended public schools, graduating from Gorton High School in 1951, then went on to attend Columbia College, NY (Class of 1955). He served in the United States Marine Corps (Captain), where he lost some of his hearing, but gained his love of Japanese art and Ikebana during the 14 months he was stationed in Japan. Jack spent the rest of his life in the San Francisco Bay Area. While he often attributed his success to “luck”, it was his quick wit, tenacity, and ability to connect ideas and people that took his career from insurance sales, brokerage firms, and art and craft manufacturing to venture capital work.
Throughout it all he continued to paint and moved to Sonoma County where his plein air and studio landscape painting became a vibrant and unique reflection of the nature that he cherished and wanted to preserve. His art has been written about and exhibited on both the West and East Coasts and is held in museums as well as in many private collections. Jack is survived by his wife Diane T.
Stuppin, his muse and love of his life, as well as his three children from his earlier marriages: Bonnie Stuppin, Michael Stuppin (Frances Lee), and Jonathan Stuppin, and grandchildren Devin and Alana Stuppin. Also by his sister, Joanna Deagan, cousins John and Peter Barbey, brother- and sister-in-law Walter and Diane Skaggs. He was “Uncle Jack” to Greg Kennedy (Wynne Bamberg), Kevin Skaggs (Gretchen), Maxine Kennedy (Sean), William Deagan (Natalie), Suzanne Deagan, Ronald Deagan (Michele), John Deagan (Michelle), and Nancy Deagan (David Butler).
A celebration of his life will be held in the late spring, the date will be announced. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Museum of Sonoma County, Food for Thought, Pepperwood Preserve, and Becoming Independent.
