(FREDONIA, NEW YORK) – Many across the Western New York Labor Movement are remembering Doug Stock today as a “tough little guy” who headed the Dunkirk AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and “who knew what needed to be done.”

Stock, 81, who was born and raised Staten Island, New York, passed away on Friday, April 19th at Buffalo General Hospital following a short illness, according to published reports.

“He was ‘such a good guy - and not to be funny, but a tough little guy,’” retired Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation President Dan Boody, who knew and worked alongside Stock, (Pictured Above/Photo Courtesy Of The Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation) said during an interview with WNYLaborToday.com. 

“He was a ‘tremendous’ Labor Leader ‘and it was always a pleasure being with him.’  He was ‘very patient and he never got overly excited.’  ‘He knew what needed to be done,’” Boody said.

WNYALF President Emeritus Richard Lipsitz told WNYLaborToday.com: “Doug was ‘very honorable - you could take his word to the bank.’  He was a ‘true’ Trade Unionist.  He had an ‘important career and was the go-to guy we needed’ in Chautauqua County.  ‘Everybody knew’ Doug.  He had a New York City ‘sense of humor where he would describe a situation and then say: ‘Can you believe these guys?’’  ‘But you couldn’t fool’ Doug.”

Stock served in the U.S. Navy and later became employed as an Assistant Custodian at one of the smaller schools in the Borough, but while he enjoyed what he was doing, he soon tired of the hustle and bustle that came with living in The Big Apple.

However, a connection through his Wife’s Father would eventually bring Stock to Chautauqua County. 

His Father-in-Law would hunt in this region with George Shepard, who was the Business Manager of Local 593 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

As candidates backed out of the Building Trades Union’s Apprenticeship Program, Stock received a call from Shepard asking him if he was interested in coming to Chautauqua County.

Stock never gave it a second thought and made his way West to where 54 years after that decision, he became a Giant in the local Labor Community.

What started as an Electrician Apprenticeship with Fredonia Electric on the Fine Arts Building at the State University of New York at Fredonia became an even greater calling.

After becoming a Member of IBEW Local 106 in Jamestown in 1971, Stock (Pictured Below/WNYLaborToday.com File Photo) worked and held numerous leadership positions in several Labor Organizations, including President of the Dunkirk AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and retired in January 2022 (Read: Via The Dunkirk Observer: Doug Stock, ‘A Giant’ In The Chautauqua County Labor Movement, ‘Ends His Long Run’ As President Of The Dunkirk AFL-CIO Central Labor Council - A Position He’s Held Since January 2006 - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York)

“He was a ‘strong’ Union supporter,” retired IBEW Local 41 Business Manager James Voye told WNYLaborToday.com during an interview.  “The guy ‘was nutso over Unions - a very good and strong leader who carried himself well.’  ‘He knew the in and outs of Labor and was politically well-versed.’”

Former Jamestown AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President David Wilkinson, a retired IBEW Local 106 Business Manager, told WNYLaborToday.com this about Stock: "Most in the Labor Movement today 'don't realize the value of a guy like Doug Stock, who fought hard' (for Organized Labor and Working People).  Guys like Doug 'who fought in the trenches -doing everything they could for Labor, are taken for granted and seem to be forgotten.'  'But he never quit.'  Doug 'did a lot of good things when it was hard to do them.'  'He lived a great life, but it is sad - because who's the next Doug Stock?'  'Once in a while you find people who come along, like Doug.'"  

The WNYALF, its current President, Peter DeJesus, Jr. and current Dunkirk AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Don Williams, Jr., issued the following statement on Stock’s (Pictured Below/Photo Courtesy of Doug Stock's Facebook Page) passing: With heavy hearts we mourn the passing of Doug Stock, President Emeritus of the Dunkirk Central Labor Council, former Business Manager for IBEW Local 106 in Jamestown, and a fierce advocate for the Labor Movement in Western New York for nearly 60 years.  He was a good man, a mentor to many of us and will be dearly missed.  Doug came from a generation of Union Leaders that never quit.  His tenacity, wit and humor made him a friend to so many and an effective champion for the Working Men and Women of Chautauqua County.  Every day of Doug’s career was marked by his unwavering dedication to his Members and the Labor Movement as a whole.  His leadership at the Dunkirk Labor Council, spanning from 2006 to 2022, was historic in many ways and his legacy is one that we will do our best to carry on with the honor, diligence and passion it deserves.  We send our heartfelt condolences to Doug’s Family and all those that were touched by his time with us.  Rest in power Brother Stock.”

For More, Read: Douglas C. Stock Obituary 2024 - McGraw - Kowal Funeral Home (mcgrawkowalfuneralhome.com)