Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Stark, Michael Peter January 20, 2025
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Robert Woolfitt http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008401 February 13, 2025, 2:53 pm

Virginian-Pilot January 26, 2025
Michael Peter Stark, of Norfolk, VA, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2025, 
following complications from a brief illness. He was 76.
Michael leaves his beloved Carol Castagna Stark, to whom he was married for 39 
years. He is also survived by his loving siblings: his sister, Nancy McFadden 
and husband David, of Brielle, NJ; his brother, Steven Stark and wife, Kitty, of 
Jackson NJ; and sister, Kathleen Carolan and husband, Edward, of Colonia, NJ. 
Also, his cherished two nieces, four nephews, a great-nephew, and five great-
nieces, as well as countless close cousins, and a trove of treasured friends.
Born to the late James and Suzanne (nee Stocking) Stark, while his father was 
attending Rutgers University post-World War II, Michael grew up in Clark, NJ. 
There he graduated from Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School and then Rutgers 
University in New Brunswick, NJ, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in 
Electrical Engineering.
In high school and as an undergraduate, Michael was a middle distance athlete, 
medaling in many important track competitions. At Rutgers, he also was a member 
of the Navy ROTC and, following graduation in 1970, joined the United States 
Navy. He served on the newly commissioned USS Inchon, an amphibious assault ship 
which was deployed at that time to sweep mines in the waters of Vietnam during 
the ending of that war.
Norfolk has been Michael’s home for more than 50 years. Following his military 
service, he settled there and met Carol, the love of his life and a Norfolk 
native. He earned a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Old Dominion 
University. For more than 30 years, he was employed as a civilian by the US 
Department of the Navy.
Michael was a long-standing and active communicant of Sacred Heart Church in 
Norfolk. The church was an important part of Michael and Carol’s lives and he 
served the church and community in many volunteer roles. He was an activist 
promoting his strong convictions about critical causes and related legislation 
in which he believed deeply, namely hunger, poverty and social justice. As such, 
he helped Bread for the World, the Virginia Organizing Project, the Interfaith 
Committee and the Norfolk Catholic Worker, to name a few.
A man of many interests, Michael dabbled in photography, traveling 
internationally with Carol, and amateur sailing at local yacht clubs and on his 
sister’s sailboat. An avid reader all his life, he had a Jeopardy-size vault of 
knowledge that knew so much about so much.
Most of all, Michael cherished his family and spending holiday and summer times 
with them. He leaves them heart broken and in awe of all the good he has packed 
into a lifetime too short, but so very well lived.
Arrangements are under the care of the H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Friends and 
family are invited to the visitation on Wednesday, January 29, from 6 to 8pm. A 
Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10am on Thursday, January 30, at Sacred 
Heart Catholic Church. Interment will immediately follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. 
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations in Michael’s 
memory may be made to Norfolk Catholic Worker, which offers short and long-term 
hospitality to homeless women and men including its “breakfast-to-the-streets” 
program. Donations can be sent to Norfolk Catholic Worker, 1321 W. 38th Street, 
Norfolk, VA, 23508. Online condolences can be made to the family at 
hdoliver.com.


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