Jacob Sumner Vanderclock

1944 - 2026

Jacob Vanderclock
Jacob Sumner Vanderclock, age 81, of Stratford, beloved husband for 59 years of Sally Ann (Keating) Vanderclock, passed away peacefully Monday, January 12, 2026 in Milford, CT. Jacob was born April 27, 1944, in Paterson, NJ, son of the late Jay Sumner Vanderclock and RuthJane (Leonhard) Vanderclock. Jacob or "Van", relocated to Stratford, CT in the 1950's. He attended Stratford schools, graduating from Bunnell High School in 1962, and then with his A.S., from Housatonic Community College. Van met the love of his life, Sally Ann Keating, R.N. at a party in Fairfield, CT in the late 1960s and in January of 1967 they married. Together, they raised a daughter, Amy, and a son, Jay. They enjoyed so many trips together, especially Gettysburg, PA, and Ireland. Jacob was a proud servicemember who was honorably discharged from the US Army National Guard in 1971. His passion for being outdoors was contagious: he loved to tell his kids about having a birthday during April school vacation and how it meant the beginning of spring so he could be outside with his cousins and friends. He summered in Coventry, CT, and spent many special weekends at the Leonhard estate in North Haledon, NJ, at his grandmother's. He created beautiful flower gardens at their home in Lordship, designing Sally's backyard garden to bloom with orange daylilies for her July birthday. He was also an avid kayaker who took on the Connecticut river for hours. He knew where all the best "put in" spots were on the Connecticut shoreline and had an excellent sense of navigation and direction. He was also a creator of a magnificent model train set, made to look like a 1950's midwestern town he called "Wabash". He carefully painted tiny trees, landscapes, and buildings for the set. He cared about its authenticity, making sure the cars in the scene and the storefronts were accurate for the time period. Van also experimented in photography from beginning to end, processing the prints in his darkened basement from the stop bath to the fixer. He captured natural sights like beaches but also architecture, and of course, his kids. He started working as a colorist in textile manufacturing, assisting with colors used for fatigues worn by soldiers in the Vietnam conflict, then plastics manufacturing, and then sales and marketing. Most of all, he was a devoted husband to Sally who he loved immensely. He was beloved "Grandpa Van" to Ben and Josh, arriving at their baseball games and swim meets and even as a fan watching Ben on guitar at Porch Fest in Black Rock. He gave the love of Rangers hockey to them and taught them much. Van is survived by his lifelong loving wife, Sally Ann, devoted son Jay Sumner Vanderclock, of Stratford, CT, dear daughter Amy Katherine VanderClock of Pawcatuck, CT., and grandsons Benjamin George Brown of Waterbury, CT and Joshua Jacob Brown of Stratford, CT. He also leaves behind a loving son-in-law, Dennis G. Brown, Jr. and a special daughter-in-law, Gina C. King. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his only sibling, Alexandra Harder Vanderclock. Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral service at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in the William R. McDonald Funeral Home, 2591 Main St., Stratford CT 06615, with Military Honors to follow. Visitation with the family will take place before the service from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Parkinson's Foundation https://secure.parkinson.org/site/TR/Champions/Generalpx=3204884&pg=personal&fr_id=6937 . For additional information, visit www.wrmcdonaldfuneralhome.com