In memoriam: STCC alumnus and former trustee Jeffrey E. Poindexter
Springfield Technical Community College is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of alumnus Jeffrey E. Poindexter ’89, who served as Alumni Trustee to the Board of Trustees from 2010-2015 and was passionately devoted to the college.
Jeff, 54, an attorney and partner at Bulkley Richardson in Springfield, Mass., was the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award at STCC. His father, who was a police officer, and two of his three brothers also attended STCC.
Jeffrey E. Poindexter '89
After graduating from Roger L. Putnam High School where he prepared for a job in the trades, Jeff enrolled at STCC and graduated in 1989. Prior to law school, he went to Western New England University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He continued on to Georgetown University, where he graduated at the top of his class.
Speaking in a video testimonial with his brother Jamiel ’93, Jeff said that STCC was a pathway to his professional success.
“It was critical that STCC was available to me,” he said. “It allowed me to get my associate degree and then transfer to a four-year school …. I give as much time as I can to STCC because it’s provided me with so much,” Jeff said in the interview. “I really think it was the place that allowed me to get where I am today.”
His long history of service to the Springfield community included chairing and participating on various judicial commissions to select federal judges in Massachusetts. Jeff supported initiatives that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. He served on the board of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club, the board and executive committee of Springfield School Volunteers and the board of Hampden County Lawyers for Justice.
Jeff was a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and its Springfield chapter, Beta Sigma Boulé, which is a national fraternity of African American professionals and the first Greek-letter organization to be founded by African American men.
In an in memoriam post on its website, Bulkley Richardson stated, “Jeff always went out of his way to be there for the people around him and his absence will be a tremendous void. Uplifting us with his humor and quick wit, it is that mischievous grin, that robust personality, and that authentic friendship we will miss most.”
To view more information, please follow this link to Jeff Poindexter’s obituary.