1947 – 2022 (October 13)
John Peter Stack, O.S.A., was born on September 20, 1947, in Darby, Pennsylvania, the son of John P. and Helen (Fitzgibbons) Stack. He had one brother and three sisters. He was baptized on October 12, 1947 at Saint Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Saint Andrew Parish School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania (1953-1961), and Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania (1961-1965).
He was received into the Order as a novice on September 5, 1966, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed first vows on September 6, 1967. He then attended Villanova University (1967-1971), and received his BA in Philosophy. He then went to Augustinian College, Washington, DC (1971-1974), and attended the Washington Theological Union, where he received an MA in Theology. He professed solemn vows on September 11, 1971. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1974 at Saint Thomas Church on the campus of Villanova University by Bishop James Malone, Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio.
Fr. John was first assigned to Msgr. Bonner High School, where he taught, was school chaplain and the senior class studies counselor (1974-1979). He received an MA in education from Villanova University in 1977. From 1979 to 1982 he served the Province as the Vocation Director and resided in Burns Hall, the Pre-Novitiate house on the Villanova University campus. In 1982 he was assigned to the Saint Thomas Monastery community at Villanova. From 1982 to 1999 he served as the Dean of Students at Villanova University, and from 1999 to 2021 he served as the university’s Vice President for Student Life. At the time of his retirement from Villanova, he was one of the longest-serving administrators at the University.
It was during his tenure when Villanova changed from a largely commuter campus to a residential experience. He was known to have been a tireless advocate for students at Villanova and truly committed to the values of the University. During those years at Villanova, he also served in local parishes for weekend ministry: Saint Dorothy Parish, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania (1974-1979), and Saint Laurence Parish, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania (1980-2021). After a period of illness, Fr. John passed away October 13, 2022 in Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Funeral arrangements for
Fr. John P. Stack, O.S.A. are as follows:
Viewing and Funeral Mass:
Friday, October 21, 2022
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
Villanova University Campus
800 E. Lancaster Ave.
Villanova, PA
9:00-11:30 AM (Viewing)
11:30 AM (Mass)
If you are unable to join on the first link above, please use this backup livestream link to be able to watch the ceremony online.
Burial:
Following the Funeral Mass
Friday, October 21, 2022
Calvary Cemetery
West Conshohocken, PA
Reception:
Following the burial, everyone is invited to:
The Inn at Villanova
Radnor, PA
(hosted by the University)
