Former Hall of Fame President Edward Stack Passes Away

(COOPERSTOWN, NY) – Edward W. Stack, who had served on the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors since 1977 following years as the institution’s President and Chief Executive Officer, died Sunday at the age of 88. Stack spent more than 60 years of his life in leadership roles with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, but it may be the resumé of community service in which he was involved that is his greatest legacy.

“Ed Stack’s leadership and vision guided the Museum for six decades as the Hall of Fame grew in size and stature,” said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “We were privileged to have him serve this institution and the Village of Cooperstown in so many capacities, and his legacy of dedication, generosity and compassion will remain with us forever.”

Stack, born Feb. 1, 1935, graduated from Pace University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1956 and soon after joined the Clark family business operation, The Clark Estates, Inc. When Hall of Fame founding President Stephen C. Clark passed away, Stack became the Secretary of the Museum in 1961.

By 1977, Stack took over as the third president of the institution as well as its Chairman. During his time as a Hall of Fame official, he oversaw tremendous growth both of the organization and the building itself as three major expansion or renovation programs were completed during this time.

“I worked closely with him on projects to expand the Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame Library,” said Howard Talbot, the late former Hall of Fame Director. “He always knew how to get people to work together.”

Stack also served as Director of The Clark Estates, vice president and director at the Clark Foundation, the Scriven Foundation, the Nourse Foundation, the Fernleigh Foundation, the Baseball Assistance Team, The Farmers’ Museum and a played a key role in the operation of The Otesaga Hotel and Cooper Inn in Cooperstown. He was a trustee of Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Baseball America Foundation and the New York State Historical Association, a director of the Leatherstocking Corp., “The New Republic” magazine, Thurston Corp., the Templeton Foundation and the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home and a member of the Salvation Army’s Nassau County Advisory Committee.

He was also involved with Hartwick College, Friends of Hyde Hall, Friends of Bassett Healthcare, the New York State Trooper Foundation, and was extremely active in the Methodist church community, including as a Board Member of the United Methodist City Society.

For his incredible business and service efforts, Stack was the recipient of Otsego County Chamber’s Citizen of the Year award in 2001, the United States Baseball Federation’s Executive of the Year Award and the Congressional Achievement Award in 1990. Pace University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and Alumnus of the Year. He has also been named a Frank Slocum Award winner by the Baseball Assistance Team and given the Distinguished Visionary Award from Pathfinder Village.

Stack is survived by his wife, Christina, daughters Amy, Kimberly and Suzanne, grandchildren Kara, Lucy and McGill and his sister, Barbara (Richard) and their family.

Visitation hours will take place on Wednesday, June 14, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Whitting Funeral Home located at 300 Glen Cove Ave. in Glen Head, N.Y. Services will be held on Thursday, June 15 at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Sea Cliff, located at 63 Downing Ave. in Sea Cliff, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to any of the following charities: United Methodist Church of Sea Cliff, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the Glimmerglass Opera Festival, Cooperstown, N.Y.