THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412100148
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: BROOKLYN, N.Y. LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
John Turpin Jr. of 236 Clinton St., died suddenly of cardiac arrest at his home on Nov. 29, 1994.
He was born March 3, 1919, in Lynchburg, Va. He attended the Jackson Street Methodist Church and graduated from Dunbar High School where he established a prowess in football and a methodical approach to golf. He was first married to the late Rachel Estelle Johnson of Staunton before attending West Virginia State College where he earned a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education and later received his master's degree from New York University. World War II found him in Europe excelling in rank to that of staff sergeant. During this time he became a member of the OISE all-star football squad and was a tenacious backfield runner. His teaching began at Langston High School, Danville, Va. During this time he organized and directed the first golf championship for blacks in the state of Virginia. In 1951 he moved his family to Norfolk and began teaching at the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (Norfolk State University) where he introduced new Health and Physical Education programs for undergraduates. He was coach of the basketball teams that won several EIAC championships and he was backfield coach during the ``Spartans'' championship teams of this era. His love of golf never faded and his membership in the Seaside Golf Association of Norfolk only enhanced his niche. From 1962 to 1971 he continued to mentor students and athletes at Claflin College (S.C.), Elizabeth City University (N.C.), Howard University (D.C.), until becoming Director in the New York City School District 13. His Health and Physical Ed programs were very instrumental in development of inner city youth. After retirement in 1991, he consulted to the Board of Education for kids' programs until his death.
Survivors include his wife, Nina Turpin, Brooklyn, N.Y.; sister, Elaine Clipper, New York City; brother, Thomas Turpin, Lynchburg, Va.; daughter, Carmen Thorne, Columbia, Md.; three sons, John Turpin III, Oakland California, Michael Turpin, Norfolk, Va. and Kyle Turpin, Atlanta, Ga.; and 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
At his wish, his remains were cremated in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Memorial donations can be sent to the John Turpin, Jr. Scholarship Fund c/o Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center, 1413 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. or American Heart Association of Tidewater, 360 Southport Circle, (NU)104, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB