Robert H. Stackpole, Physician
Dr. Robert Hayes Stackpole of Elizabeth, N.J., and Bluff Road in Amagansett died on Jan. 28 at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth.
Mr. Stackpole was born on Nov. 19, 1930, in Montclair, N.J., to Philip West Stackpole and the former Sarah Musson. He attended Montclair High School, graduated cum laude from Amherst College, and received his medical degree from Cornell University College of Medicine.
After completing an internship at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and a residency in surgery at New York Hospital, he served as a United States Navy lieutenant commander at the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital. After that, Mr. Stackpole returned to New Jersey, where he practiced urology in Elizabeth for more than 50 years. He retired at the age of 83.
There are many doctors, across several generations, in the Stackpole family. Dr. Stackpole married Henriette Abel at the Second Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth on Sept. 7, 1957. She, like her groom, attended Cornell University College of Medicine, and would get her medical degree from Cornell in 1959. The couple enjoyed 60 “wonderful, glorious” years together, according to the family, during which time they raised four daughters.
Mr. Stackpole is survived by his wife, who is a dermatologist in Elizabeth, and by his daughters, Sarah Stackpole of Elizabeth, Betsy Stackpole Koch of Chicago, Jane Stackpole Vogel of Newton, Mass., and Alice Stackpole Eagleson of Kennebunk, Me; by his five living grandchildren, and by a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his youngest grandchild, Drew Eagleson.
In addition to his long career as a practicing physician, Mr. Stackpole was a founding partner of Urological Group of Union County and president of the medical staffs of Elizabeth General Medical Center and Alexian Brothers Hospital, both of which were incorporated into Trinitas Hospital.
He was distinguished by his colleagues in being elected to several high posts in his profession. He was president of the New York Section of the American Urological Association and chairman of the New Jersey delegation to the American Medical Association; president of the Union County Medical Society, and president of the New Jersey Society of Surgeons.
He was a loyal alumnus of Amherst College, and served as class agent and then president of his alumni class.
The Stackpole family said they would like to extend its gratitude to the staff of Trinitas Hospital for all the kindness and loving care he received during his final days. A memorial service will be held on March 3 at 11 a.m. at the Suburban Golf Club in Union, N.J.
Donations have been suggested to a variety of causes: the Trinitas Health Foundation, P.O. Box 259, Elizabeth, NJ 07207-0259; the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital — The Andrew Eagleson Memorial Fund, c/o Matt Parks, Director of Philanthropy, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, Me. 04102, or the Amherst College Development Office, Attn: Emily Ziomek, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, Mass. 01002.