Partners of the Americas was saddened by the death of Clinton C. Crocker, founder and president of the New Jersey-Haiti Partners, who passed away on Oct. 9, 2014 at the age of 86. Born in Norfolk, VA, Sept. 7, 1928, moved at an early age to Schenectady, NY. Clinton attended and graduated from Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then earned a Master of Arts from Kean College. Several years later, he received a fellowship to attend a post graduate program at Harvard University in Management of Higher Education.
In 1976, Clinton brought together a group of enthusiastic business and professional leaders from New Jersey and Haiti to found the New Jersey – Haiti Chapter of Partners of The Americas. According to Jeff Richter, former Chapter President: “When Clinton received the request to start the Partners of the Americas New Jersey-Haiti Chapter, he picked it up and ran with it. Under his leadership, the Chapter achieved its most significant statewide impact.”
Richter continued: “Clinton and his wife, Doris, hosted countless visitors from Haiti in their home, and always took a leading part in developing programs for the visitors. They also hosted many Chapter and committee meetings in their home, and brought in a number of new members. Finally, no matter who the Chapter President was, Clinton was always challenging that person to be more active and accomplish more. When I was President, he was always pushing me to do more, devote more time, and travel more. I never managed to live up to his standards, but I did a lot more than I would have without his presence and encouragement.”
Outside of Partners, Clinton’s career was principally in education having taught in the Newark and Middletown, NJ public schools. He was also an adjunct professor at Kean College. He then moved on to become the first administrator of the Garden State Arts Center, now known as PNC Arts Center. He left that post to reenter the education world where he took the post of Executive Dean of Brookdale Community College. His career then took him to Rutgers University where he became a senior administrator of the Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Prior to retirement, on leave from Rutgers, Clinton directed the public relations component of the 200th Legislative Session of the New Jersey State Legislature in the state capital. He served on many boards and committees throughout the state including Board of Trustees at Rutgers University, and Brookdale Community College, and Board of Directors of the NJ State Council of the Arts, and founding president of the Festival of Arts and Heritage of African Americans.
Clinton is survived by Doris, his wife of 59 years, sister, Carolyn Johnston, and children, Clinton, Leah, Roger, and Ronald Crocker. He also leaves behind many nephews and nieces and 10 grandchildren of whom he was very proud.
