Jack Corkey

Jack Edward Corkey

Resident of Reston, VA

Long-time Reston, Virginia, resident and retired Herndon, Virginia, business owner Jack Corkey died suddenly at his home on Sunday, January 9 of a heart attack. He was 66 years old. He had recently retired as owner-manager of the Great Harvest Bread Company store in Herndon, which he started in 1990. He was a Herndon business leader for more than two decades, establishing and growing the Montana-based, national bakery chain east of the Mississippi, building its reputation for generosity in the community. He was active in the Herndon/Reston community where among other activities, he was involved in Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels, and for several years he sang tenor in the choir of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Reston. He was an avid runner, kayaker, movie and crossword buff.

Jack was born in Daly City, California. A graduate of Capuchino High School in Millbrae, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1966, serving in Indiana. He spent a few years selling cars at Fairway Chevrolet in San Bruno, and selling real estate for Don Craighead Realty in Millbrae before pursuing a degree from Ca¤ada College in Redwood City.

In 1975 Jack attended Richmond College, in England, where he continued acting and voice studies and where he met his future wife, Laurie Conover, a piano student from Connecticut College, who was doing a junior year abroad. After a number of years pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles and New York, Jack, now married, settled with Laurie in northern Virginia, where they opened their Great Harvest bread bakery and ran it together for nearly 20 years.

Services were held at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Reston, Virginia.

Jack is survived by his wife, Laurie; a brother, Bill, of Laughlin, Nevada; a sister, Maureen Wargo, of Seattle (formerly of San Bruno); a step-brother, Michael Del Castello, of Portland, Oregon (formerly of San Bruno); a step-sister, Michele Del Castello of Seattle; and numerous nieces and nephews