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John T. "Jack" Stahley, Jr.
15 de septiembre de 1922 - 13 de agosto de 2019
15 de septiembre de 1922 - 13 de agosto de 2019
John T. “Jack” Stahley, Jr., aged 97 years, departed peacefully on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, just across the river from his native Detroit. A private memorial with military honors is planned.
Jack was born on September 15, 1922 to John Sr. and Julia Stahley, in a lovely old house on Howard Street in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. Sandlot games, wooden crates of glass bottles traded for pocket change, relaying the home runs of Navin Field down Harrison Street to avoid the bullies; Jack was there. Always with a glint of mischief and smirk, Jack might be an “honorary” Catholic to play on a basketball team one minute, and helping to finish your basement the next.
Jack graduated from Detroit Southwestern High School in the spring of 1938, double-promoted twice in his educational career. Jack was an avid baseball player and of remarkable talent; he caught the eye of notable Tigers pitcher and scout Wish Egan before he entered the Navy in 1943. His vibrant stories of pre-War Corktown brought it to life in the present, and often featured his beloved sister, Cleo (Delancy Hartman Fitzsimmons).
A veteran of WWII, some of Jack’s fondest stories stem from his training days at Navy Pier and Pensacola (or most specifically: the antics driven by he and his buddies when frequenting the dance halls, on leave). Jack, by all accounts, could cut a rug with the best of them and remained a Glenn Miller fan for the course of his life.
Jack returned home from the Navy in 1946, and met and married Dorothy (Sivanich). Their 32-year marriage brought two children: Steven and Sheryl. Ever resourceful, he established his own delivery business, contracted to supply the Detroit movie houses with the latest films. Jack is remembered as an engaged father and a fixture in their Cody neighborhood. He passed on his gift for baseball by coaching in the Barney McCosky leagues at Stein Field for many years. His players recall him fondly, to this day, for his life-changing mentorship.
Jack married Florence (“Flo,” nèe Watts) in 1980, and settled on the Windsor side of the bridge for the second half of his life. He enjoyed keeping his competitive edge by spending time at the casino Black Jack tables, his good humor recollected by many dealers. Jack also spent much time celebrating the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren; he made a point to come across the bridge at least once per week for as long as he could. A valued standard at sports, recitals, graduations and milestone events, he was his family’s biggest fan.
His life was well-lived, the depth and breadth of which cannot be contained in paragraphs. Jack is survived by his wife, Florence (Watts Kavanaugh); Steve (son) and Janine Stahley, Sherry Marschall (daughter); five grandchildren and their spouses and companions; and four great-grandchildren: Kristin (Matt Van Raaphorst, Angela), Kelly (Brad Knable), Cory (Sierra Stopa, Colton, London), Kiel (Jamie Shaberly), and Derek (Amanda Cunningham, Easton).
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack's honor to one of the following:
- United States Navy Memorial: https://www.navymemorial.org/donate-gift-in-honor-form
- Honor Flight: https://www.honorflight.org/donate-online/
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Parkview Memorial Cemetery
42.393434, -83.38030500000002
Homenajes
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Patrick Kavanagh
Dear Steve, Sherry and Family, I was so saddened to hear about your father's passing. I so enjoyed Jack on every visit I made back to Windsor from Alberta. My own father passed away in 1968 and when my Mom married your Dad in 1980 I made a comment to one of my Aunts saying that Jack reminded me of my own father. Since I was already headed to Alberta at that time your Dad an I became more like good friends....a few years apart. On a trip back to Windsor when my 3 kids were quite young they all called him Grandpa Jack....even to this day. My daughter was so impressed with Grandpa Jack because he had Cherry Coke in the Fridge and they could have one at 7am!!! I am sure my Mom or Wife intervened with that breakfast. When my daughter heard about Grandpa's passing she brought me gift which included Cherry Coke. I am drinking one now. We shared many stories and had some very frank conversations. We did not always see eye to eye but we respected and valued each others comments. One time many years ago I made the trip to Windsor. I flashed back to when I was a teenager and remembered I had a girly magazine stashed away up in some ceiling tiles. When I could, I went downstairs to the basement to fish that magazine out and trash it. To my surprise it was gone, I thought "Crap! I hope my Mom did not find it". Jack out of the clear blue says to me when we were alone. Hey Pat, I found your old magazine up in the ceiling tiles AND I THREW IT OUT! That's just between you and me! I coulda kissed him! That story was one of many just between us until now. Your Dad was a good man and a role model, he took good care of my Mom all those years helping her with her medical issues and I am sure visa versa. My kids loved Grandpa Jack he spoiled them rotten. The stories of the war, baseball, movie reels, punching some guy in the face, Jimmy Hoffa connections, old movies, old actors and actresses. A few of those we had in common. The best stories of my Uncles when they were mainly at the casino were priceless when Jack told the stories.....I can hear him now talking about my Uncle Albert clearing the blackjack table when he farted. I made a comment to one of my friends about your Dad in that "Jack would give you the shirt off his back ...but then again who would want to see an old man with his shirt off" - Yup Jack would have loved that line....I am seriously missing him already. Well, there is so much more I could say about how wonderful your Dad was but I now have tears in my eyes AND my Cherry Coke is almost done! I would like to keep in touch with you going forward if we can. Sincerely, Pat and Linda Kavanagh Linda loved him too....
Kristin Van Raaphorst
Not many kids are privileged with the opportunity to have an actual relationship with a great-grandpa, especially one this great ♥
Gregory T Gibbs
I knew Mr. Stahley (aka 'Steve's Dad' - We never called parents by their first names back in the old neighborhood. - not about to now..) primarily because i hung around with his son Steve throughout school until Steve and I went off to different colleges. If it wasn't for Steve's Dad I would have never made it through the tryouts for Barney McCoskey Little League to go on to play for the Yankee team he coached. He worked hard training me to be a ball player. I recently learned he went above and beyond by helping my mom get credit for the best baseball glove I ever owned by secretly picking it out for my mom who was divorced at the time and knew little about baseball equipment. Steve's dad served as the coach of our Barney McCoskey Yankee team in 1963 and I am attaching a team photo in his memory. This part of the tribute for my old Coach rings especially true for me: "He passed on his gift for baseball by coaching in the Barney McCosky leagues at Stein Field for many years. His players recall him fondly, to this day, for his life-changing mentorship." I will never forget the mentorship he provided to me. Thankfully he lived a long and fruitful life and is survived by a loving family. May he rest in peace. Greg Gibbs
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