Robert N. Stack

Robert N. Stack (Bob), age 84, passed into eternal rest on Thursday morning, September 22, 2022, after a long illness. Bob was born on March 9, 1938, to Hugh Stack and Cynthia (Gaiotti) Stack in Wallingford, Vermont. He spent his early years in Bridgeport, Connecticut before moving to Dallas, Texas at the age of 10. Bob loved Texas, but Vermont held a special place in his heart. He often reminisced about traveling by overnight train from Texas to Vermont to spend summer vacations on the family farm. Bob was a proud graduate and enthusiastic alum of Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, where he excelled in football and track. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Dallas in Irving.

Bob moved back to Connecticut after college where he met and married Melanie (Morin Wood) Stack in 1963. They started a family as Bob taught school and earned a Master of Education from Central Connecticut State University, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Springfield College. Bob’s teaching career was devoted to the underserved, spending 30 years as a special education teacher for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families at the State Receiving Home in East Windsor. He also started a successful and long-running reading clinic, tutoring countless local students on weeknights from a classroom in the family home. After retiring, Bob worked as an adjunct professor for Westfield State University and Springfield College, serving as the cooperating practitioner to many student teachers. Bob also taught adult learners preparing for the GED.

Bob was a man of deep faith and had a special devotion to St. Joseph. He was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in Agawam for over 50 years and frequented daily Mass. Bob was a kind and gentle person with a giving spirit. He could be found engaged in conversation with people all over town and was perpetually resupplying the food pantry. He never forgot a special occasion and was known as the ‘keeper of the cousins’. Bob was a devoted husband and father who truly led by example. He never missed an opportunity to write you a breakfast note, deliver a pep talk, or tell you he loved you. Bob cherished time with family and enjoyed simple pleasures like Sunday dinner, a good joke, playing cards at the beach, and watching football. Bob had a lifelong love of trains, playing the saxophone and was a World War II history buff.

Bob leaves his loving wife of 59 years, Melanie, his daughter Rosemarie Light (Richard), his daughter Cynthia Kardos (Christopher), grandchildren Thomas Light (Robin), Seamus Light (Maribelle), Julia Kardos, Olivia Kardos, Chris Kardos and John Kardos, and great grandchildren Wynter Rose Light and Rosemary Light. Bob also leaves a dear niece Jacqueline Mikalson and family, and nephew Anthony Stack and family, as well as close cousins Charles and Edward Gaiotti. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Angelo (Gene) Stack, his beloved son Robert N. Stack, Jr. and his beloved daughter, Kathleen Bielanski.

The family would like to thank Beacon Hospice Care, New England Hospice and Genesis Healthcare for their tender care with Bob.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 10 – 11 AM at Colonial Forastiere Funeral & Cremation, 985 Main Street, Agawam followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 12 Noon at St. John the Evangelist, Main Street, Agawam. Burial will take place in St. Thomas the Apostle Cemetery, Kings Highway, West Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Parish Cupboard, Inc. 738 Main Street, West Springfield, MA 01089.