OBITUARIeS

edward William Stack, 88, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and humanitarian, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023 in Port Washington, new York with his family by his side. ed was born in Rockville Center, new York on February 1, 1935 to edward Henry Stack and Helen (Leitner) Stack. Raised in Sea Cliff, new York, ed graduated from north Shore High School in 1952 and obtained his BBA from Pace University in 1956. In 1967, ed married Christina Hunt of Dahlgren, Virginia, and they settled in Glen Head, new York where they raised their three daughters, Amy, Kimberly, and Suzanne. In 1949, at age 14, e d was stricken with polio in what proved to be the defining event of his childhood. e d spent nearly a year in St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, n ew York where, sensing that it was not his nature to be idle, the Sisters put him to work. He happily did their secretarial work and was soon writing letters to national figures, urging them to reach out and communicate with the children in the hospital. One could already see the beginnings of the man who would devote his life to the service of others.

Upon graduating from Pace, ed joined The Clark estates, Inc. in new York, new York, the office that manages the financial and business services for the Clark family and the major charitable foundations and nonprofit organizations supported by The Clark Foundation. The Clark family’s mission of supporting social, educational, and charitable institutions was a perfect fit for ed and he remained with them his entire 44-year career, even- tually retiring in 2000 as president and director. ed’s life was rooted in his strong sense of faith and he devoted himself to improving the well-being of others. On Long Island and in the greater new York area, ed served for many years as a director or trustee of the SCO Family of Services, Mental Health Association of nassau County, north Shore Kiwanis Club, Sports Angels, The Salvation Army’s nassau and Greater new York Advisory Boards, new York State Trooper Foundation, United Methodist City Society, and the United Methodist Church of Sea Cliff, where he was a lifelong member. ed received many awards over the years including a Congressional Achievement Award, executive of the Year Award from the U.S. Baseball Federation, and Citizen or Volunteer of the Year awards from more than a dozen organizations that he was involved with. He was also awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Hartwick College, Pace University and Long Island University.

During his tenure with the Clarks, ed oversaw the growth and development of several important organizations in Cooperstown, new York and the surrounding area, most notably the national Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ Museum, Bassett Medical Center, Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, Hartwick College, Pathfinder Village and The Clark Foundation’s Scholarship Program for high-school students. elected to the Board of Directors of the national Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961, ed was president of the institution from 1977-2000, a period of tremendous change and expansion.

In retirement, ed and Chris moved to The Harborside continuing care community in Port Washington, where he continued his life’s mission of serving by joining every committee possible, including the Resident Council. One of his favorite activities in his

Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar.

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Tom Walsh of Worcester, a 65-year-old hiker and cancer survivor, set out on a 200-mile charity fundraiser through-hike of Otsego County on June 1. He plans to visit all 20 state forests, five Otsego Land Trust conservation areas, and all 24 towns in the county. Walsh is using the hike to raise funds and awareness for Otsego Outdoors and the Hannah-Lee House, a residential home for Bassett Medical Center patients and family members.

“Kudos to Tom Walsh for this remarkable venture. We are extremely grateful to Tom for supporting the Hannah-Lee House and the comfort it provides to our patients and their families,” said Bassett Healthcare network President and CeO Dr. Tommy Ibrahim. “We are proud to call beautiful Otsego County our home base, and salute Tom for supporting Otsego Outdoors.

“There’s three reasons I do this,” Walsh said. “One is to raise money, two is to raise awareness about the Hannah-Lee House and Otsego Outdoors, and three is a personal challenge.” He noted that his route calls for him to walk about 12 miles a day for three weeks. “Hiking 12 miles a day for days in a row will be a challenge,” he said. He said that knowing people have pledged to donate funds for each forest he reaches is a motivating factor. “It helps keep me going, knowing if I reach the next forest, that means more funds go to the HannahLee House and Otsego Outdoors,” he said.

This is Walsh’s fourth charity hike. Last year he hiked to all state parks and state forests in Otsego County and raised funds for the Bassett Cancer Institute and Otsego Outdoors. He aims to raise $5,000 this year, and as of June 1 was about halfway to this goal. Walsh was delayed by the air quality crisis on June 7-9, but got back on the road on June 10. As of June 12, he had passed through the Hartwick State Forest and was approaching the Texas School House State Forest, the halfway point of the hike. He has completed his circuit through the northern half of the county.

For more information, updates on Walsh’s progress, or to donate in sponsorship of his walk, visit https://otsegooutdoors.org/200miles/ last years was scootering around the building in his electric wheelchair acting as a volunteer notary. He enjoyed going to other residents’ apartments to notarize their documents, but what he really loved was talking to and getting to know the person. Aside from working and serving, ed loved people. He never met a person he didn’t want to get to know. He was blessed with an innate ability to make people feel at ease and he loved telling stories. ed was truly a friend to all and he will be missed by many. ed was predeceased by his parents, edward H. Stack and Helen L. Stack; his siblings, nancy H. Stack and Richard L. Stack; and his nephew, Brian Aasheim. ed is survived by his wife, Christina; his daughters, Amy, Kimberly, and Suzanne; his grandchildren, Kara, Lucille, and McGill; his sister, Barbara, and brother-in-law, Richard; his niece, Lynn (Fred); and nephews, Thomas (Laura) and Robert (Kelly); and his grand-nieces and nephews,

Kristen, Kaitlyn, Alexia, Cole, and Luke.

Visitation will be held at Whitting Funeral Home in Glen Head on June 14 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the United Methodist Church of Sea Cliff at 10 a.m. on June 15 with the Rev. Miyeong Kang and the Rev. Bill Shillady officiating. Burial will follow at the Brookville Cemetery in Glen Head.

Contributions may be made to: United Methodist Church of Sea Cliff, 63 Downing Ave., PO Box 190, Sea Cliff, nY 11579; SCO Family of Services, 1415 Kellum Pl., Suite 140, Garden City, nY 11530; Mental Health Association of nassau County, 16 Main St., Hempstead, nY 11550; The Salvation Army for Services in nassau County, 65 Atlantic Ave., Hempstead, nY 11550; United Methodist City Society, 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 1922, new York, nY 10115; Friends of Bassett Healthcare, One Atwell Rd., Cooperstown, nY 13326.

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NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by Wriley Nelson

Yager Museum Sets Summer Programming

OneOnTA—Hartwick College’s Yager Museum of Art and Culture will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday from June 12 to June 29. After this, it will be open by appointment only until the fall semester starts on August 28. Featured exhibitions include “A Deep Dive into a Large Ocean: Tradition, Tourism, and Transformation in Micronesian Cultures,” and “Margaret Huntington Boehner: An Upstate Artist on Cape Ann.” June will be the last chance to see the museum’s popular exhibition, “Juxtapositions: Warhol and the Baroque.”

Continuing exhibitions include “Of Time and the River: 12,000 Years in the Upper Susquehanna Region,” which features many native American artifacts collected by museum founder Willard Yager. “Masterpieces of european and American Art” is a permanent exhibition of works ranging from the Renaissance to the 20th century.

In addition, the museum will host two free children’s programs. “Half-Day Fun Week” will run from 12:30-3:30 p.m. on June 20-23, with a different craft activity each day. There will also be a “Crafternoon” from noon to 3 p.m. every Wednesday from June 28 to July 26. Crafters ages 5-12 can work on a wide range of activities. Museum admission is free and there is ample parking near the first-floor entrance to Yager Hall. For more information, visit https://www.hartwick. edu/campus-life/arts-culture/yager-museum/.

Springfield Library to Host Local History Authors

SPRInGFIeLD CenTeR—The Springfield Library will host local authors nancy einreinhofer and Suzanne Goodrich for a discussion of their new book, “Around Springfield,” at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 22. The book is a collection of more than 200 photographs illustrating the history of Springfield. At the event, the authors will highlight different periods, including the foundation of the town and the famous Fourth of July celebration. “Around Springfield” opens with a brief introduction tracing the growth of the town from the earliest Dutch exploration of Central new York through the Revolutionary period to the rapid agricultural and Turnpike growth of the earth 19th century. einreinhofer and Goodrich recount the rise and fall of hops and dairy farms in Springfield and provide lavish descriptions and photographs of Gilded-Age manors and estates that the young nation’s ruling class built in the area. However, they give at least as much space to the homes, libraries, stores, churches, offices and social spaces where the majority of people lived their lives. It also features entire sections on the Fourth of July celebration, other towns and infrastructure on Otsego Lake, and conservation efforts since the mid-20th century. “Around Springfield” is a complete history of post-settlement human activity in the town and its environs. Residents will be fascinated by the collection of photographs, especially those of surviving buildings and landscapes. Continuity and change are visible on every page. The book will be available for purchase, with all proceeds supporting the Springfield Historical Society. All are welcome to this free event. Call (315) 858-5802 to RSVP. For more information, contact Hanna at the library at sp.conbeer@4cls.org.

Freight Wheel to Host Housing, Population Talk

HARTWICK—Dr. Alex Thomas, professor of sociology and executive director of the SUnY Oneonta Program for Local Area Community and environmental Science, will present data on regional population change at the Freight Wheel Café in Hartwick at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 22. The talk, co-sponsored by the café and the PLACeS Institute, will cover the seeming paradox of dropping population and declining school enrollment combined with severe housing shortages in many Catskill-region communities. Seating is limited, so an early arrival is recommended. Participants should use street parking. The Freight Wheel Café is located at 3097 County Route 11.

Library System Announces Road Trip Challenge

VeSTAL—The Four County Library System announced a summer road trip challenge beginning on July 1. Residents are invited to participate in the two-month challenge to visit all 42 member library branches in Broome, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties. Participants will discover unique buildings, valuable resources, and innovative programs and services. To join, simply pick up a brochure from any library and ask a staff member for a stamp at each location you visit. More information, as well as a map, can be found at https://4cls.libguides.com/roadtrip.

Cherry Valley Outdoor Games Add New Events

CHeRRY VALLeY—The sixth year of the nationally-recognized Cherry Valley Outdoor Games, on June 16-18, will include two new events: speed climbing and log birling, also known as log rolling. As usual, the weekend will feature entertainment, food, crafts, hours of exciting lumber sports, archery and cornhole. For more information, visit the Cherry Valley Outdoor Games Facebook page.

NYSEG Enrolls in Butterfly Conservation Project

OTSeGO COUnTY—new York State electric and Gas and Rochester Gas and electric announced that they have enrolled in the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances, a voluntary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program that addresses the needs of at-risk species before they become endangered. The companies committed to preserve monarch butterfly habitats on 18 percent of their above-ground rights-of-way across new York by promoting nectar plants and milkweed. All non-federal property owners are eligible to enroll a property or portion of a property in a CCAA. For more information on the process, visit https://www.fws. gov/service/candidate-conservation-agreements-assurances.

‘Tales of Love and Transformation’

OneOnTA—Don’t miss the Mountain View Wellness Center Players in “Tales of Love and Transformation” on Friday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 17 at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street, Oneonta. The performance is free, with a $5.00 suggested donation. The show is directed by Barbara Gregson with music by eric Porter.

First Impressions

ROB AINSLEY