john donald strucker

JOHN DONALD STRUCKER passed away suddenly at his home on May 31, 2022. He was born in 1945 in Orange, NJ, to educators Margaret Trimble and John F. Strucker.
From an early age, John had a deep curiosity about the world around him. At age two he wanted to go to school, so his mother gave him school books and a lunchbox and let him pretend he was boarding the school bus. At age five or six, he snuck off on his own to collect arrowheads in the woods near his home - and never forgave his mother for giving those treasures away after he went off to college. He brought home all manner of creatures from the wild but always released them. He fondly recalled the many nights he and his father spent watching Sid Caesar's "The Show of Shows" on a small black and white TV, and he would fall off the couch laughing.
John was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, participated in the civil rights movement, and fought for social justice causes throughout his life. After earning a degree in Social Studies from Harvard College in 1966, he enrolled at the University of Chicago but soon found himself expelled due to anti-war activities - an outcome he viewed as a badge of honor. For more than a decade after, he worked as a screw machine operator and a labor organizer in an auto parts factory, and was highly active in the racial equity movement.
In 1983, John returned to Cambridge with his young family to pursue a Master's in Education and later a Doctorate in Education, both from Harvard's Graduate School of Education (HGSE). He would spend the next forty years working in and contributing to the field of adult literacy, which he saw as a powerful tool in the fight against generational poverty. He directed research studies on adult education at the National Center for the Study of Adult Literacy and Learning, and worked on numerous literacy projects for several organizations including World Education, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institute for Literacy, and education departments in eight states. At age 77, he was collaborating on the design of online courses for adult learners and consulting to developing nations on how to increase literacy for underserved and marginalized populations. Colleagues in the education space affectionately referred to him as the "Mister Rogers of the Reading Neighborhood."
John had recently joined the Worthington Conservation Commission and Native Fish Coalition, Massachusetts chapter, advocating for the restoration of native fish and their habitats.
John was happiest when spending time with family and was delighted that his children and grandchildren shared his compassion for and curiosity about the natural world. He was an avid fly fisherman and a talented fly tier. .
John was easy-going and fun to talk to. He could talk knowledgeably about almost anything, from World history to 1970's TV actors. He loved preparing hearty meals for friends and family, especially Italian dishes . When you entered his home you were greeted by a big warm "Hellooooow!" followed by, "Are you hungry? Can I get you something to drink?"
John was a kind, compassionate and principled man. He defended his liberal views with his encyclopedic knowledge, and bristled at the term "radical left" because he believed that social justice isn't radical or political, it's just right.
John's memory lives on through his beloved wife Brenda Shanley of Portsmouth, NH; his brother Lee Strucker and partner Diana Erikson of Seattle, WA; daughter Maeve Clifford and partner Josh of Solana Beach, CA; daughter Margo Strucker and partner Christopher Shaikh of Medford, MA; daughter Nadja Agnew and partner Jordan of Washington, DC; his beloved grandchildren Max, Isabel, and Calvin; his nephew Miles Strucker of Brooklyn, NY; his former wife Krista Bolt of Medford, MA; his cousins James Trimble and Gwen Campanelli of NJ; Richard Strucker of PA; his in-laws James Shanley, Karen Battles, Mary Jane and Thomas Keane of NH and Michael Shanley of SC.
John's family will honor him at a private service. John cared deeply about literacy and the need to preserve and protect the planet for future generations. If friends desire, donations made be made to one of the following organizations:
The Native Fish Coalition, https://nativefishcoalition.org.
Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts http://www.lvm.org/donate.html.