He learned to water ski in the ditch banks in El Paso's Upper Valley, his friends pulling him from a car, honking when they reached a gate to signal he should let go.
He liked to load up his donkey with supplies and head out with his friends into the desert to camp out in what's now Coronado Hills. He infuriated police in a time when that meant re-enacting scenes from American Graffiti (he swears the writers stole scenes from his life).
Jack had fond memories of fishing with his dad, sitting on the banks of the Rio Grande, eating crackers and sardines. He remembered a time they caught an eel instead of a catfish. His father took it home, cooked it North Carolina-style and showed a son the everyday beauties of country living. It's no wonder his favorite vacation spot was the Flagship in Galveston, where he could fish off the balcony.
Jack raced with Mario Andretti, Al Unser Sr., Paul Newman, met Meyer Lanski in Las Vegas and sat in a lounge with Nat King Cole. He entertained four wives - partially blamed his sisters who needed a partner in their dance studio. He attended UTEP, when it was the College of Mines, and Syracuse University, where he begged friends to send him real chili. He managed car dealerships, ran his own car lots and proudly proclaimed he was a car salesman - for years, number one in the southwestern region. He championed what he believed was right for himself and on behalf of others, risking getting banned from establishments, battling judges (one of whom called him "Preacher" and later thanked him), fighting as he understood this was his world, every one person's world, that we construct together.
Jack remains with his wife and partner in life of 21 years, Christina Sarabia-Stroud (he encouraged her to embrace her Mexican/Hispano heritage); his daughter Erin, with whom he'd work early mornings in the garden, clipping and mowing until they got too hot and so would cool off by jumping into the pool - explaining his choice to retire as My Gardener; his siblings Jacqueline, Pat and Julian; his brothers Wayne Martin, Ernie Provencio, Norm White, Tom Yutz, John Gafney, Hans Paul, John Stone, Mike Chauvin and countless others.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate his life at his sister's home in El Paso at 915 838-8596 on a day that celebrates liberation, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, at 1:30 p.m.
Our hopes are that you live life as freely and fully as Jack Stroud did, every day.
The Stroud family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the arrangements. Cremation will take place at PCS.
To sign the online register book, please visit www.alamogordofuneralhome.org.
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Published in Alamogordo Daily News from Sept. 8 to Oct. 7, 2012
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