It is with great sadness that I must advise you that Mike Stack, President Emeritus of the Group of our Friends in Philadelphia, died on July 13, 2011 at the age of 84. He died in his sleep at Temple Hospital in Philadelphia where he was recovering from surgery.

For many years, Mike Stack was a dedicated and tireless advocate for the John Paul II Foundation representing the Philadelphia Chapter of Friends for over 20 years. He cheerfully helped our fundraising efforts and as an attorney helped in various matters involving the Foundation. He visited Rome and met our beloved late Holy Father Blessed John Paul II on several occasions.

Mike was the son of Irish immigrants and grew up in Philadelphia where his father was a U.S. Congressman. He graduated from West Catholic High School, St. Joseph University and Pennsylvania University Law School.

Any day I ran into Mike was a good day. I never left him without a smile on my face. Those of you who knew Mike probably shared similar experiences. A Mass for Mike was celebrated by Father Krzysztof Wieliczko at the tomb of John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, last Thursday 14 July 2011. Our Foundation will miss him.

Richard L. Krzyzanowski