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First Black Postmaster is Buried in Woodlawn

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[[caption]] JOHN R. STRACHAN [[/caption]]

By George Todd
Amsterdam News Staff

A funeral Mass for John R. Strachan, who in 1967 became the first Black appointed Postmaster in New York City, was celebrated Tuesday morning at Corpus Christi Church, 529 W. 121st Street. Burial is at Woodlawn Cemetery, Long Island.

Strachan, 66, died last Friday in Beth Israel Hospital after suffering a stroke. He became ill last August and underwent surgery for removal of a brain tumor a month ago.

He was an accomplished musician and played saxophone with various jazz groups. He was given a musical tribute by former colleagues at Benta's Funeral Home on St. Nichols Avenue where a wake was held Monday night.

Harlem-born, Strachan attended DeWitt Clinton High School, and earned bachelor and master degrees from New York University, and studied advanced management at Harvard University.

During World War II, he served four years with the 369th Battalion. He entered the Postal Service as a clerk in March 1941, and in 1963 was promoted to assistant to the regional director.

Before he became postmaster at Eighth Avenue and 33rd St., an appointment made by President Lyndon B. Johnson on recommendation by Senator Robert Kennedy, no Black had ever held that position in any large U. S. Urban city.

As postmaster, Strachan who worked his way up from the ranks, implemented a program providing opportunities for Blacks and other minorities to move up to management level positions. He managed to maintain a high respect among the people he worked with.
On retirement in 1979, Strahan taught at New York Technical College, and as a management consultant.

He is survived by a son John; two daughters, JoAnn Chiakulas and Jacqueline Meadows. He also leaves his mother, Mrs. Julia McDougall Strachan Gibbs; three brothers, James, David and Edward.

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