Thomas Stafford Stark

Tom was born on November 9, 1953 to Eugene Stark, Sr and Rita Myers Stark in South Miami, Florida. After graduation from Christopher Columbus High School in 1971 he went on to earn a High Honors degree in Accounting in 1976 at the University of Florida where he met and married his wife, Betty (Elizabeth) in 1975.

Tom became president of Arlington Industries, Inc. after graduation from college.

And what a career it was. Early on he worked in the mail room at Arlington and grew quite adept at marketing the company through direct mail campaigns. Tom’s interest in marketing evolved into major end-user advertising and marketing programs. Once he became president Tom began a lifelong dedication to developing innovative labor-saving products for the electrical industry. He attended tradeshows and visited jobsites, learning first-hand from contractors what their needs were. He designed patented products and hired others to design even more. As he said a few times, “I hire the right people then get out of the way so they can do their jobs.” He also had the utmost faith and respect for what top-notch, professional sales representation could do for his business.

Fast forward 50 years or so. Because of Tom’s vision, Arlington is now an industry-leader in product innovation, its manufacturing plant has more than tripled in size and it remains one of the most desired lines for an electrical manufacturer rep agency.

He was a member of several trade organizations and Arlington won numerous awards for

product innovation and customer service. Tom himself won the National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association (NEMRA) Manufacturer of the Year award for 2005.

As Tom went about his business life he encouraged and supported his two daughters’ sports interests, among them horseback riding, skating and soccer. He later developed a keen interest in golf which he shared with his wife Betty, eventually becoming the owner of two golf courses in South Florida: The Florida Club in Stuart and Atlantic National in Lake Worth.

Tom will be remembered as a kind and generous man, as well as an ethical and assertive leader.

Tom was predeceased by his parents, Eugene Sr and Rita Stark. He is survived by his wife, Betty, two daughters: Meredith Kelly Stark Oostwegel (Camille Oostwegel) and Allison Marie Stark-Riley (Aaren Riley), and three (soon to be four) grandsons: Spencer Thomas Oostwegel, Sawyer Thomas Stark-Riley and Winston Camille Oostwegel; as well as his sister Patricia Ann Stark of Minneapolis , MN and brother Eugene Stark Jr. (Jean) of Miami, FL.

A visitation for Thomas will be held Tuesday, March 14, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 1655 University Drive, Coral Springs, FL 33071, with a wake service at 4:00 PM

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a remembrance made in Tom Stark’s name to Childhelp, a nationwide non-profit organization serving the needs of neglected, at-risk and abused children www.childhelp.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kraeercoralsprings.com for the Stark family.