Remembering the
Unforgettable Eric Stoakes
by Leo Adam Biga | Photos by Debra Kaplan
W
hen Eric “Big Daddy” Stoakes died at age 51 on Feb. 16, 2018, the local journalistic community lost a charismatic original. The affection expressed for this dancing bear of a man made those of us who didn’t know him envious of the bond others shared with him.
tor of the Tomahawk student newspaper. He galvanized his career ambitions at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where the honors student helmed The Gateway.
As The Reader’s 25th anniversary celebration winds down, remembering Stoakes is apt since he helped shepherd this paper’s mid-life maturation as its creative and promotions director. His contributions extended beyond The Reader to Kidz Magazine and Omaha Magazine. He co-founded the distinctive Medium, which folks still fondly recall decades after its short run. Most recently, Stoakes was managing editor of Encounter.
Though I was a contributing writer for many of the pubs Stoakes served, our paths rarely crossed — a function of my never being an intern, a staffer or a section editor. Plus, I was several years older. Our sparse contact was limited to bloodless phone calls or emails. Thus, he was an enigma to me, and I suppose I was to him.
Omaha’s print media fraternity is small. Anyone who spent any significant time in it the past three decades either worked with or for Stoakes. The Wahoo, Nebraska, native caught the journalism bug at Millard South High School, where he was edi-
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He soon became a familiar name and face in Omaha’s professional publications circles.
In reading the tributes assembled for this piece, I feel I missed out not knowing this creative. Those who did describe a bigger-thanlife presence with a colorful style all his own and an insatiable appetite for life. He was, by all accounts, a generous sage and mentor and a crackling storyteller, tastemaker and thought-leader. He liked instigating fun in the pressure cooker world
February 2020
of media but remained a real stickler for getting things right. He openly, unapologetically cared about the craft. Deeply connecting with a fellow traveler in journalism, especially one so passionate for the work, is a gift to be treasured. I was impressed to discover that wherever he worked he fashioned a creative salon environment built on curiosity and collaboration, and he delighted in cultivating and encouraging young talent. Though a mystery to me in life, it’s fallen to me in his death to memorialize this irrepressible dude about town. I regret not having known him better, but I’m honored to share the impressions he made on others. Photographer Bryce Bridges recalls when Stoakes, then editor of Omaha Magazine, paid him ultimate respect. “I suggested a slightly ‘sexy’ image to be the cover. He liked the idea, but when he took it to the editorial meeting it was shot down. He told everyone at the ta-
ble they were wrong, stood up, gave his notice and went home. I was caught completely off guard. I had never had anyone believe in me so much and back one of my suggestions so vehemently, much less quit their job.” Stoakes was coaxed back, the photo ran on the cover, and he and Bridges “began working ever closer” as “a creative team” — later launching Medium together. Former Reader editor Tessa Jeffers recalls Stoakes having her back. “The most important thing he gave me was friendship. Right behind that … inspiration. Eric was a lover of life with an open heart matched by an ability to dream and the fearlessness to act on it. In my time at The Reader, Eric was the person I was closest to. We were thick as thieves and looked out for each other like extended family. He was a brilliant collaborator because he thrived on the possibilities of yes and who cares about no. “The man had a style and a vision all his own. Among my fond memories is seeing the cover illustrations and
