Gary James Hack

Obituary

Gary James Hack passed away on January 21, 2024. Gary was born in New York City December 18, 1936 to James W Laughlin and Beryl (Townsley) Laughlin. He lived with his maternal grandmother Anna Brown Townsely Hack from a very young age and at 14 his maternal grandmother adopted Gary and his name then on was Gary Hack.

He attended Andrew Jackson High School in Queens NY, graduating in 1955. He won several athletic events especially in baseball and his dream was to become a major league player. He was scouted by the Minnesota Braves. He decided not to take them up on their offer and because of the strong influence of his grandmother he decided to become a policeman and joined NYPD in 1960. He was a patrolman in mid town Manhattan.

He joined the Army National Guard in 1959 and served 6 years and was stationed in Fort Riley.

In 1963 he joined the NYFD. He felt he could make rank faster which he did becoming a Lieutenant in the early 70s. On June 17, 1978 he married Marilyn (Gray) Hack. They eventually moved to Venice FL and lived there for several years. He enjoyed playing tennis, making furniture and refinishing antiques. In 2004, after a tour of The Villages, FL they decided to move and settle in The Village of Belevedere where they enjoyed many wonderful years and and getting together playing golf and time with friends. Gary was a talker and always was telling stories about his time on the police and fire departments. They never got old.

Gary suffered from dementia for the last eight years and for the past year and a half he resided at Watercrest Buena Vista where he got excellent care . He enjoyed many supervised trips and activities which made his last years very pleasant.

He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years Marilyn . Also survived by his daughter Stacey Hall of Castle Rock, CO. Two grandsons Nicholas and Peter Hall of Mableton, GA. Several Laughlin cousins whom he never got to meet. He did meet Barbara Sickmon of Georgia though and they had a wonderful reunion.

Memorial service will be held Saturday June 15, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church Main Campus Rt 466 and Morse Blvd with a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association The Villages Walk, with memo Gary Hack’ Walk, 2170 West State Rd 434 #300, Longwood FL 32779 or Tunnel to Towers in his memory 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306. Arrangements entrusted with Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation Society, Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449. Sentiments encouraged at: www.baldwincremation.com.