DESMOND WALTER STACK Aug. 7, 1946 – Sept. 25, 2022

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

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

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

Desmond is preceded in death by his parents, Desmond and Sophie Stack. Desmond is survived by his son Robert Stack of Cupertino, California, his daughter Kaylee Schwertfeger and her husband Brian of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and his two granddaughters, Paige and Clara Schwertfeger. He is also survived by his brother Douglas Stack and his wife Jo Ann of Canandaigua, 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 for Desmond through the last several years. We are also grateful to the Los Alamos Senior Center for their support in recent years, and to the directors and staff at The Legacy at Santa Fe for their compassionate care.

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