Jack Troy Dies At 76

Jack Troy

Jack Troy of Southampton died at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport on Sunday, November 20. He was 76.

Mr. Troy was born March 8, 1936, and raised in the Bronx and lived in New York City, Southampton, Fire Island, Florida and St. Tropez, France.

He graduated from Hunter College where he attended two years of pre-law classes and eventually decided to enter the clothing industry. In 1973, he founded Snake Creek Manufacturing Company, a successful clothing company that he presided over for 25 years.

Mr. Troy had an eye for spotting talent and supported Jhane Barnes and helped her to develop the Jhane Barnes label, which launched her successful career in the high fashion men’s market.

Always the entrepreneur, he opened a large number of restaurants in Manhattan, including Rio Grande, Café Iguana and LaGalette. In addition, he was a partner for Plus One, one of the first personal training gyms in Manhattan.

While an undergraduate at Hunter College, Mr. Troy entered a dance competition and appeared on a TV show in the 1950s called “Step This Way.” Judges Arthur Murray and Jayne Mansfield picked Mr. Troy as the winner and awarded him a vacation in France. This was the beginning of his lifelong love of France, its people, wine and food. He owned a vacation home in St. Tropez for 30 years.

Among his many sports interests were golf, tennis and baseball. In his 50s, he attended a baseball camp run by Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Joe DiMaggio. Because of his baseball and dance skills, he was nicknamed “Mambo Jack,” by Mr. DiMaggio, and he cherished this name until his death. He also enjoyed cooking, reading, music and enjoyed playing host to his friends and neighbors wherever he resided.

Mr. Troy loved Southampton for its beauty, its community and the quality of life offered here.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Plant Troy; relatives, Adelaide Raffel and her husband Paul, and their daughter Linda; and their children.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold.