Obituary: Philip J. Stackpole

Philip Jackson Stackpole, 80, of Wakefield, formerly of Watertown and a 30-year resident of Winchester, passed away Oct. 27, 2012. Husband of Alice V. (Conlin). Born, raised and educated in Watertown, he was the son of the late Philip J. and Alberta (Ross) Stackpole Sr.

A three-sport athlete (baseball, basketball and football) at Watertown High with the class of 1950, Mr. Stackpole received the Hoyt Thurber award as the best athlete in his class was a three-time inductee to the Watertown Hall of Fame. As an athletic standout, he was offered many different scholarships for all three sports. He accepted a basketball scholarship to Boston University, where he was a multi-sports star. He moved on to a baseball scholarship at Brandeis University, was named All-Scholastic, and also successfully played quarterback while there. Phil was scouted by several major league teams and eventually signed with the Red Sox Farm System where he played for a Triple A team in Louisville as part of a four-year minor league stint.

Phil’s baseball career was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army during the Korean conflict, and he served alongside his younger brother, Paul. While enlisted, he became All-Army in baseball, All-Pacific in football and a basketball All-Star. He returned to the Red Sox organization after discharge, although he felt that he had lost a bit of his game and that the draft had hurt his baseball career. 

Stackpole went on to become a national sales manager for the Hyde Shoe Company and then with CCM Skates, and retired as Vice President of Sales.

An amazing father and grandfather, Phil enjoyed attending his kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events. He also enjoyed golf and was a member of the Watertown Hall of Fame Committee.

He was the loving father of Philip C. Stackpole and his wife Laura of Winchester, Susan M. Stackpole-Marlin and her husband Glenn of Beverly, Peter R. and his wife Beth of Newbury, Jeffrey D. and his wife Kathy of Chelmsford, Alison V. Stackpole of Gloucester and Cynthia J. Stackpole of Andover. Brother of Paul Stackpole of Tucson, AZ and the late Betty Polcari, and the cherished grandfather of Kyle, Sara, Sean, Amanda, Ella, and Jackson Stackpole.

His Services will be held from the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester on Friday Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Prayer Service in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held in the funeral home on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to www.MSPCA.org.