Edward Daniel STACK

STACK, Edward Daniel Q.C. 1923-2009 With loving family members at his side, Edward Daniel Stack of Edmonton passed away peacefully on March 19, 2009. Born in Vulcan, Alberta on May 13, 1923 he is lovingly remembered by his wife of sixty-three years, Joan (nee Heather); their children, Sister Mary Clare U.J., Daniel, Ted (Kerry), Michael (Nadine), Peter (Monica), Margie (Brian) Gavriloff, Joanne (Randy) Wachowicz and Philip (Clara); their grandchildren, Keltie, Ryan, Karlyn, Michael, Nathan, Laura, Kathryn, Rebecca (Shawn), Luke, John, Andrew, Evan, Marcus and Dante; their great-grandson, James. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Paul, Berry, Frank, Carlyn, Luke, Cathy and Louis. He was predeceased by his father Luke, mother Mary Clare, sister Kay and brothers Luke and Lou. He was raised in Vulcan before coming to Calgary in 1940. He attended St. Mary's Boys School in Calgary and after a year at Dalhousie University joined the Canadian Army in 1943. Following three years of service, he entered the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Alberta and after graduating with a Commerce degree entered the Faculty of Law, graduating in 1953. Active in student affairs throughout his years at the U of A, in his final year he was elected President of the Student Union and was awarded the Gold Ring and the Mothersill Scholarship for his contributions to the University. While attending University he worked at Chateau Lake Louise as a Bell Hop and Head Bellman. Dad established his own practice of law in 1957, was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1970 and was one of the senior partners of the firm of Stack, Smith, Bracco and Irwin until appointed to the Provincial Court of Alberta in 1975. He retired from the Bench in 1999. Dad led an exemplary faith-based life with a profound love of the Eucharist. He served as a member of Council of the Canadian Bar Association and Chairman of the Criminal Justice Subsection for Alberta. He was elected to the Edmonton Separate School Board in 1958 and served as a Trustee for ten years and as Chairman of the Board. Dad was a member of the Misericordia Hospital Board of Directors, serving as Vice Chairman and was one of the founding members of the Marian Center. In 1968 he was appointed to a special committee to study the need for additional post secondary education in Edmonton which resulted in the formation of Grant MacEwan Community College. He served on the GMCC Board of Directors as its Chairman and also served as a Director of the GMC College Foundation. Dad was also active in the community having served as President of the Belgravia Community League, a member of St. Anthony's Parish Council, Chairman of the St. Peter's Home and School Association and as a member of the Council for the Summer Village of Itaska Beach. He was appointed Mayor in his final term. He was also politically active both federally and provincially having served on various election campaign committees. He loved Canada, its people and all of its lands. In 1977, Dad was awarded the Queen's Commemorative Medal as "an expression of appreciation of worthy and devoted service rendered by the recipients in their various walks of life and of the esteem in which they are held by their associates." Dad's love and dedication to his family was the hallmark of his life. His pride and joy was the cottage at Pigeon Lake - Just Home - which was truly his destination of choice. He maintained his humor and joyful spirit to the end and will always be remembered for his loving, warm and generous character. A Prayer Vigil and Visitation will be held at CONNELLY-McKINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 10011 - 114 Street, Edmonton on Monday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Basilica, 10044 - 113 Street N.W., Edmonton on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dad's name to The Northern Alberta Renal Program, Unit 5B1, c/o Cara Stark, No. 1801, Aberhart Building 1, 11402 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2J3 or to the Marian Centre, 10528 - 98 Street, Edmonton, AB, T5H 2N4. The family would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all those who cared for Dad during his final days and his friends and caregivers at Touchmark. CONNELLY-McKINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 10011 - 114 Street, Edmonton. Phone: 780-422-2222. Published in the Calgary Herald from 3/21/2009- 3/22/2009