Jack Downing, Longtime Head of Soldier On, Dies at 82
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — John "Jack" Downing Jr., the driving force behind Soldier On, died Saturday at home at the age of 82.
"There is no Soldier On without Jack's passion, vision, wisdom and most importantly caring and loving the men and women that Soldier On has served, and those that work here," wrote President and CEO Bruce Buckley on the organization's website. "The void left will never be filled but more importantly the impact on so many lives will last forever."
Downing spent more than 30 years working in social services in Pittsfield, building up a local anti-poverty program, developing a new format for drug abuse counseling, teaching crime justice at Berkshire Community College, as director of social services for the Action for Opportunity Program, and helping inmates transition back into the community.
He served on the boards of directors in agencies including the Berkshire County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Berkshire County Neighborhood Youth Corps, the Berkshire Athenaeum and the Eastern Regional Advisory Board of the U.S. Catholic Charismatic Renewal.
After a mid-career change that had him and a partner operating the Color Shed, a photo processing business, Downing returned to community activism, this time with a focus on helping veterans.
Downing stepped in as CEO of the Soldier On program at Veterans Administration Hospital in Leeds in 2001. The 7-year-old private nonprofit program was on the verge of closing, but he turned it around in a matter of months, and, in the years that followed, established shelters for homeless veterans.
In 2008, his powerful testimony to a Veterans Affairs congressional committee resulted in the first equity-based housing for homeless veterans. This first in the nation housing concept for homeless veterans continues to be modeled across the country today.
The archetype would be the Gordon H. Mansfield Community in Pittsfield that opened in 2010, offering a "village" of one-bedroom and loft apartments along with supportive elements.
"We deliver our services where they live — social, job skills, medical," said Downing at the community's grand opening. "It's difficult for people who don't own their own transportation to make appointments, so if you drive the appointments to them you can make it successful."
Downing led the organization for nearly 15 years. Soldier On has grown to more than 700 units of permanent supportive housing for men and women veterans in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. It also offers transitional housing, food and clothing, substance abuse treatment, skills training, mental health services and case management.
Downing was born on Feb. 2, 1943, in Somerville to John F. Downing Sr. and Gertrude Martin Downing, and grew up in Pittsfield. He graduated from Cranwell Preparatory School and later attended Merrimack College.
He returned home to Pittsfield after his first semester to support his mother and eight siblings after the sudden death of his father.
He leaves the love of his life, his wife, the former life Mary J. Tobin, whom he married on June 12, 1965. Together they raised nine children, seven of whom they adopted: Jeffrey (Sorrell), Elaine (Daniel Hunter), Michelle (Andrew Schnopp), Christopher, Peter (Whitney), Marlo (Dale Rosko), Michael, and Eric (Aracelis).
He is also survived by his three siblings Joseph, Elaine, and Marie, and his 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son John and five siblings, including the late Berkshire District Attorney Gerard D. Downing.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St. A Celebration of Life will take place Thursday, Aug. 14, at Berkshire Hills Country Club from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Soldier On in care of the funeral home.
