Ana Maria Stack:
CLASS OF 1963
Academy of St. JosephClass of 1963
Brentwood, NY
Academia Del Sagrado CorazonClass of 1965
Santurce,
St. John's PreparatoryClass of 1959
Santurce,
Academia Santa TeresitaClass of 1959
Santurce,
Ana Maria's Story
Life
While working at RCA Michael came to visit in Oct. of 1965. I would eat lunch at work with Lou and dinner out with Mike. My dad took me aside and told me that Mike had serious intentions twd. me. I had no clue. Dad insisted we sit down and talk and find out what his plans were. So we did. After asking about each other's family members, etc. he stated that he had put in several job applications in various shipyards so he would not have to go to sea anymore. Then he said, "I'm sure I'll land one of those jobs so we should be able to get married in August." My reaction was "WHAT??? You can't make plans like that! You have to get my grandfather's approval!" He looked at me with his impish Irish/Italian eyes and said, "I've already done that." I was disarmed and upset at the thought of having been given away. After I talked to grandfather I understood his decision and followed his advice. We were married in August 6, 1966 after being in each other's presence, only 42 times in a year and a half. This marriage lasted until June 9, 1998.
(MORE TO COME)
We were married on August 6, 1966 in Coral Gables Fla, where my family had moved to. My dad was ill and the Drs. thought he had epilepsy. He took a job with Eastern Airlines in Miami then soon discovered he had a brain tumor. He died two years after my wedding at age 46.
Michael and I went to live in Hanover, Mass. and in 1969 we moved to Marina Del Rey, Calif. I experienced the Sylmar earthquake and soon after in Feb. 1971 we were transferred to Mobile, Alabama.
We settled in, adopted a girl, Diane in 1972 and a boy Steven in 1974. They were 3 weeks old. I was lucky that it was pre-legal abortion time.
As they grew up I became very involved in parish ministry becoming the first woman of Spanish heritage in the state of Alabama to be a Minister of the Eucharist. I attended Spring Hill College for 2 years to receive a certificate in Social Ministry and led a Network of Care in my parish with 58 volunteers. We covered every aspect of need for our needy.
In 1990 I took a job in Pastoral Care and became a C haplain for the Hospice and Alzheimer units. I loved it. I have so many experiences to share, I should write a book!
In 1992 Michael became dis-ilusioned with Ingalls Shipbuilding (now Northrup Gruman) where he was a Jr. Vice President, and he took a job for a small shipyard on George Is., Florida (part of the Jacksonville area) He left in October and I stayed behind to sell the house and atte...Expand for more
nd to the movers. I officially left Alabama(sweet home) in December 1992. We were there until April 1993 when Litton Industries, who owned Ingalls, contacted Mike and offered to re-instate him with a job in Agoura Hills, Calif. (50 miles north of LA) He took it and we moved.
We were in a corporate apt. in Woodland Hills when 6 miles away the Northridge earthquake occurred. I went to work with Mike for 2 weeks after that, I was so shook up! Anyway, we found and bought a condo in a beautiful area called Westlake Village, 4 miles from his office and we were very happy there. I again became very involved at the church and went back to school to become a certified Liturgist. Made good freinds with 2 couples and in June of 1998 we flew to Kauai together. Three days into the vacation, Michael suffered a fatal heart attack. Luckily we had by then made plans to return to Alabama the next year and had sold our condo. My friends became family immediately as they took care of me through the ordeal.
By then my sister and mom had moved to the Daphne area and I flew back there to be with them, wait for Mike's body and had his service at my old Mobile parish of St. Dominic. He was cremated and I have him with me to this day.
I went back to Westlake for a memorial service and to say farewell to my church and my friends.
At age 52, this very spoiled woman had to learn to fend for herself. Buying a house, paying bills, securing health insurance etc.
School
hello
College
After graduating from ASJ I went to Sacred Heart College in San Juan. Because it was "all girls school" again I decided to take the 2 year secretarial. While on my second year there, I met Michael J. Stack, a nuclear engineer and Merchant Marine officer on the Nuclear Ship Savannah which was on tour around the world. We dated the 3 days he was in port.
He left for the Mediterranean and while at Athens, Greece he helped me write a paper on Democracy in 1965 vs Democracy at the time of Pericles. I aced that paper.
Workplace
After graduating from Sacred Heart I went to work for RCA corporation at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico.
I received a letter from Michael, whom I had met on 1/17/65, saying that he was coming to P.R. in October and wanted to see me. I was dating a sailor from New Hampshire at the time and had forgotten what Michael looked like. But I wrote back and told him it was ok for him to visit.
I worked at RCA from June to November when my family moved to Miami, Florida.
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