Desmond Stack

Desmond Walter Stack, 76, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 25, 2022, in SantaFe, New Mexico.

Desmond was born on August 7, 1946 in Herkimer, New York to parents Desmond and SophieStack. Desmond studied mathematics and computer science and spent his early career years asa scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He moved to LosAlamos, New Mexico with his family in 1985 where he continued his career at Los AlamosNational Laboratory. Desmond was working as a Group Leader in the Probabilistic Risk andHazard Analysis Group until he retired in 2002.

Desmond loved spending time with family and friends. Desmond, his then wife Jackie, and theirtwo children established a long running tradition of summer motorhome camping withmotorcycles in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. In retirement, Desmond continuedto enjoy camping and riding motorcycles in the Jemez mountains. He also had a love of musicand was a skilled pianist; he spent several years playing the piano in a church band while livingin Albuquerque. Desmond will be remembered for his generosity, his sense of humor, hisamazing piano playing, his culinary skills, and his love for adventure, especially whilemotorcycling.

Desmond is preceded in death by his parents, Desmond and Sophie Stack. Desmond is survivedby his son Robert Stack of Cupertino, California, his daughter Kaylee Schwertfeger and herhusband Brian of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and his two granddaughters, Paige and ClaraSchwertfeger. He is also survived by his brother Douglas Stack and his wife Jo Ann ofCanandaigua, New York, his brother William Stack and his wife Nancy of Herkimer, New York,and nephew Jason Stack of Vero Beach, Florida.

We are especially grateful to Leo Marquez and Ashley Zubia for their care and support forDesmond through the last several years. We are also grateful to the Los Alamos Senior Centerfor their support in recent years, and to the directors and staff at The Legacy at Santa Fe fortheir compassionate care.

A Celebration of Life is currently being planned. Donations in Desmond’s memory may be madeto the Los Alamos Senior Center.