Thomas Stack ’71
Thomas Michael Stack, 74, formerly of Ellenville, NY entered into Glory peacefully in his sleep on October 12, 2023 in his new home of 3 months in Wimberly, Texas.
Tom was born on Nov. 6, 1948 in Troy, NY to parents Eugene and Ruth Stack. He graduated from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School in Burnt Hills, NY in 1967. He receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hope College in Holland, MI in 1971. Tom married his college sweetheart Deborah Clinton on Jan. 29, 1972 in Ellenville, NY.
Tom enlisted in the United States Navy in August of 1972. He was a Vietnam War Veteran who trained with the Navy SEALS and served as an operative in Naval Intelligence stationed at Pearl Harbor, HI, attended Naval Justice School in Newport, RI and became a Legalman in the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps in San Diego, CA. While in San Diego he took graduate courses in Systems Analysis, Administrative Analysis and International Law at San Diego State University. After serving in the military, Tom moved his young family to the Cleveland, OH area to work as a supervisor for FOSECO, Inc. In 1979 he joined the family business, Marvin Millwork, Inc. in Ellenville, NY where he became a partner and the vice president of architectural services. He sold millwork products for the building industry and worked with architects in New York City to specify custom windows to restore historic landmark buildings. In 1990 he was employed at Huttig Sash and Door Company in Middletown, CT, followed by ENAP, Inc., a building cooperative in New Windsor, NY.
A devoted family man, Tom enjoyed taking his two daughters on camping, skiing, hiking and boating adventures all over New York State, New England, Cape Hatteras and Florida. He was a wonderful Popop who loved to joke and spoil his two grandchildren when they spent the summer months at the Ulster Heights homestead in NY. Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Deborah Stack ’71, his daughters Whitney Stack of FL (Christopher O’Brien) and Courtney Stack-Slutsky of TX (Jason Slutsky), his grandchildren Lilah Stack-Slutsky and Julius Slutsky of TX, his AFS Foreign Exchange daughter Refika Yuzuak from Turkey, his sister Kathleen Kitagawa of AZ (Rev. John Kitagawa), his sister-in-law Susan Stack and niece Meghann Stack (children Cam’Ron, Brian, Skylar, Michael and Gauge) of NC his sister-in -law Constance DeGrazio (Carl DeGrazio) and nephew Christian DeGrazio of FL and his dear cousin Judy Frederick of MI. Tom is predeceased by his parents, brother David Stack, his nephew John Stack, his in-laws DeWitt and Patricia Clinton, and brother-in-law, James Clinton.
Tom was a member of Ellenville Reformed Church (Elder), Noonday Club, Ellenville/Wawarsing Fourth of July Committee, Deyo Family Association of Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz (NY), Northeast Retail Lumberman’s Association as well as National Sash and Door Jobbers Association.