STACK, James Edmund, Sr., ENCM

1925 - 2014

James Edmund Stack, 88, of Claverack, New York passed away in his sleep at The Whittier Center in Ghent, NY, on February 27, 2014. James, known to all as "Eddie" when a youngster, and then "Jim," is survived by his wife, Ingeborg Ruhe Stack. There are no calling hours orformal funeral arrangements. A private ceremony is planned.

Born on July 31, 1925 in New Haven, Connecticut, Jim was the youngest of six children, all now deceased, born to Garrett M. Stack and Lois R. Cleveland of Guilford, Connecticut.

Raised in Guilford, Jim joined the U.S. Army and fought in Germany in WW II. He was awarded the Purple Heart after sustaining bullet wounds to his arm and back. Following the war he worked for Cooley Chevrolet in New Haven as an automobile mechanic and soon was offered a more lucrative position at Manhattan Pontiac. His wife, Shirley (Mason), and his two sons, James E. Stack, Jr., and Garrett L. Stack, relocated to New York City as a result.

Building a reputation as a master mechanic, Jim was offered the first Austin Healy authorized service center in the United States, which he started on Manhattan's west side in 1952. In New York he was approached by Elia Kazan, director of the 1954 Oscar-winning film On the Waterfront. Jim was asked if he could cut a taxicab in half giving the appearance of men talking and riding in a cab. Jim obliged. The famous taxicab scene, with Rod Steiger and Marlon Brando saying "I coulda been a contender!" was filmed in Jim's shop complete with Jim and others gently rocking the cab making it appear to be in motion.

In the mid '50s, he left New York and returned to Connecticut where he was employed as a master mechanic by Frank McDonald Volkswagen -- at the beginning of the "beetle" invasion. He remarried and his new blended family included Ingeborg's two daughters, Danuta and Loretta, as well as his two sons.

After earning his bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut State College, Jim took a position in the state's Vocational Education System and taught automobile mechanics and coached the rifle team at Henry Abbott Technical School in Danbury from 1959 - 1977. During this period he continued to work after school for local automobile repair facilities as a troubleshooter where he was called on to diagnose and solve seemingly unsolvable repair issues.

In 1966, Jim joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. After retiring from the State Vocational School System he joined the Navy full-time where he relocated to Newport, Rhode Is­land and was in charge of teaching and curriculum writing for ship engine maintenance and repair. With the rank of Master Chief, he retired from the Navy in 1985 and soon settled in Columbia County, New York where he lived out the rest of his years as an active member in the Hudson VFW.

In retirement Jim developed his passion for working with wood and created many items for friends and family.

Jim is also survived by his son Garrett L. Stack (John Anderson) of Woodbridge, CT, daughters Danuta Jarvis (Stephen Jarvis) of Shelton, CT and Loretta Jones (Da­vid Jones) of East Aurora, NY. Jim is predeceased by his third wife Catherine Kilbride of Newtown, CT. During the 1970's Jim and Catherine made their home in Sandy Hook, Connecticut with Catherine's children Christine, Cathy, Edward, Charlene, John and Francis McGrath.

He is also survived by grandchildren Suzanne Stack Paul (Stephen Paul) of Shelton, CT; James G. Stack of Har­winton, CT; Kodi-Lee Stack Closson (Jeremy Closson) of Hillsdale, NY; and great grandchildren Stephen Paul, Jr., and Karlie, Mackenzie and Sawyer Closson.
A man who never held a grudge, a brilliant mechanic, a master teacher, an exceptional craftsman, an outdoors­man, Jim's warmth, kindness and compassion will be missed by all who knew him.