J. William Stack Jr.

J. William Stack, Jr. Joseph William "Bill" Stack, Jr. died peacefully at the Health Care Center at Meadow Ridge in Redding, Connecticut on March 25, 2008, at the age of 89. Born and raised in East Lansing, Michigan, where his father was a Professor at Michigan State University, he attended East Lansing High School, where he was Captain of the football team that remained undefeated for the four years he played there. He then attended Yale University, graduating in 1940. There he was Captain of both the freshman and varsity football teams. He served in the Navy during WWII, seeing action at Midway and Guadalcanal before transferring to the European theatre where he took part in D-Day. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was the first U.S. Naval Officer to enter liberated Paris. After the war, his business career began at General Motors, and culminated in 1970 when he founded his own executive search firm in New York City, William Stack Associates. He ran the firm from 1970 until his retirement in 1995. Throughout his life he was active in Yale alumni affairs. He was also always active in the Episcopal Church, serving on several different Vestries. After his retirement, he became a Mentor in the Norwalk, Connecticut school system. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Wolcott Rorick "Mimi" Stack, and their children and families, Chris, Martha, Nathan, Courtney, Charlotte, David, Sarah, Hadley, Isabel, Will, Peter, Sonya, Joey, Patrick, Mickey and Jamie. He was predeceased by his son, Joseph William III, and his sister, Elizabeth Leslie. A memorial service will be held later this Spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Mid-Fairfield Hospice, P.O. Box 489, Wilton, Connecticut 06897.