07/23/2023
This is the hardest letter I have ever had to write and I apologize, it has taken me so long to announce this, but the truth is my heart is broken….
My heart breaks to tell our community Jim Cropsey passed peacefully at home on July 21 at around 4 pm. It was the first perfect day of this summer, the humidity left as the breeze came in. Farmers just left the fields from harvesting, summer camp had just let out and the farm store was open. Jim and Pat loved watching Friday afternoons at the farm. The sounds of children squealing in laughter and cars pulling in always kept his curiosity. It was their favorite time of day.
Jim left a legacy that impacted all of us and will for generations to come. He paved a path of true community. He helped the youth by providing jobs, guidance and support. He was an active member in the community through Rotary, the Historical Society and multiple other organizations. Jim was a well educated man, studied at Cornell for Agriculture, but he held everyone to standards of kindness and compassion. He served in the Korean war and knew the true meaning of family through friendship and brotherhood. Jim and Pat mentored and supported all of the people. They cheered each of us on to make this world better than the way we left it. They made each of us their family and because of their impact, we made them ours.
His legacy precedes him and now leaves us with a space that he designed just for us to continue to grow, learn and cherish together. Jim and Pat donated the land to Rockland County and the Town of Clarkstown to forever be farm and park land for our community. And 13 years ago they entrusted the Rockland Farm Alliance to manage the space with agricultural education efforts to the community . Over the course of the past few years Jim and Pat have grown to be my mentors and my family. I will forever miss Jim's smile of approval when I told him I joined the rotary or the historical society. Pat and Jim’s guidance has made The Rockland Farm Alliance and me determined to carry out their mission of serving the youth and the community of Rockland … and we will do just that. Because of the support that Jim and Pat designed, they set us up to continue their mission of community, education and agriculture.
Please join our farm family to honor Jim’s memory. The funeral will be at Higgins funeral home Saturday the 29th at 10 am and after we welcome you to the Cropsey Farm from 3-7 pm for a celebration of Jim Cropsey's life. There will be food trucks, music and a festival- just as they always loved it. You can see all of our historic photos and agricultural equipment in the barn… and we will be giving tours of the land and historically renovated barn. But most importantly, you will get to love the land the same way Jim did. The same way we do.
Rest in Peace, my mentor, my friend and my family. Thank you for allowing me into your family, thank you for allowing me there in your final moments, and thank you for entrusting me with this land.
I ask you as community members, please share this with everyone you know. Jim’s memory and honor deserves to be heard. Pat wants to see you, talk with you and hear your memories of her love.
In health,
Sue & The Rockland Farm Alliance
