A member of what is commonly referred to as “the Greatest Generation,” Stanley Sacks passed away on Thursday, Apr. 17, at his home at Brookdale Dogwood Creek senior living community in Germantown, Tennessee.
The Baltimore native was 100.
During World War II, Sacks served in the U.S. Army’s 94th Infantry Division and fought in the European Theater, notably in the Battle of the Bulge. Following that battle, he fought in Germany until the toppling of the Third Reich and the end of the war.
Afterward, his division was stationed in the German city of Dusseldorf and then Czechoslovakia, primarily to manage and oversee the return of displaced persons and prisoners of war.
Sacks was awarded a Bronze Star, a European Theater of Operations Medal and a World War II Victory Medal. He was also recognized by France with the Legion of Honor Medal, and by the Czech Republic with a service medal.
After the war, Sacks graduated with bachelor of science degrees in mathematics and education from Johns Hopkins University, He later earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma and received accounting accreditation from the University of Alabama.
After graduating from Hopkins, Sack worked as a mathematician and operations research analyst at the Aberdeen Proving Ground for the U.S. Department of Defense Ballistic Research Laboratories. During his time at the Harford County-based army facility, he evaluated weapon systems and designed missile warheads and fuses to combat enemy aircraft.
Later, Sacks moved to Huntsville, Alabama, and worked at Redstone Arsenal on the team that developed the M1M-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile. That mobile inceptor missile is still in use today, notably during the 2003 Iraq War and recently in Israel and Ukraine.
Later, Sacks retired early from the government and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked as an accountant before relocating to Palm Beach County, Florida.
“Stan was always active in a synagogue wherever he lived,” his family wrote on the memorial page of the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. “He served as president of synagogues in Huntsville and Columbus. He was also active in many Jewish organizations such as B’nai B’rith and United Jewish Appeal.”
Sacks is survived by his daughter, Margie (Sid) McMillan; his granddaughter, Rachel McMillan (Jack Rosencrans); his great-grandsons Leo, Dylan and Kyle Rosencrans; his stepchildren Jim (Barb) Goldberg, Jon (Jan West) Goldberg, Pam (Jim) Schwartz and Bill (Suzi) Goldberg; his step-grandchildren, Allison, Andrew, Lauren, Lilly, Jillian and Jacquelyn Goldberg, and Jaime, Jason and Stephanie Schwartz; and his respective step-great-grandchildren.
Sacks was predeceased by his parents, Fannie Epstein Sacks and Morris Sacks, as well as his brother Frank (Eileen) Sacks and sisters Rose (Dave) Shaffer, Freda Dubin (Max) and Pauline (Herbert) Luntz.
He was also predeceased by his first wife, Rose Cabnet Sacks, and his second wife, Shirley Schottenstein Sacks.
A graveside service for Stanley Sacks will be held on Monday, Apr. 21, at 1 p.m. at Arlington Chizuk Amuno Cemetery, 4300 N. Rogers Avenue in Northwest Baltimore. Following interment, friends and relatives are invited to a gathering at 1105 William Street in Federal Hill.
Contributions in Sacks’ memory may be sent to cancer research, animal rescue or the donor’s favorite charity.
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