Timothy Stack

Often described as “larger than life,” Tim was known not only for his professional leadership and vision but also for his generous spirit, giving nature and warmth.

Tim was born Jan. 21, 1952 in Pittsburgh, Pa. the son of Robert, a salesman, and Marjorie, a real estate agent. After his dad died when Tim was 7, his mother married John Gilmore, an aeronautical instructor, who raised Tim, the oldest of two sisters and one brother.

Tim received a Bachelor of Arts from Bethany College in West Virginia where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and president of the student body. He earned his master’s degree in hospital administration at Virginia Commonwealth University which launched him on a long and successful career in healthcare including years as president and CEO of the Borgess Health Alliance in Kalamazoo, Mich., president and CEO of South Side Healthcare System in Pittsburgh and senior vice president and chief operation officer at Central Medical Center and Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Since Tim became the top executive in December, 2001, Piedmont Healthcare grew from two hospitals and eight physician practices to a $1.6 billion organization that includes five hospitals, more than 50 primary care and specialty physician practices and a 900-member physician-contracting network. He led Piedmont to develop Atlanta’s first integrated cardiovascular program – Piedmont Heart Institute – which earned Piedmont’s place as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Overall Cardiac Services and Cardiac Surgery (2012). The hospital has been recognized and awarded many state-wide and national distinctions under his leadership.

Tim served on many leadership, hospital and community boards and committees since moving to Atlanta in 2001, including the American Heart Association, the Georgia Hospital Association, United Way, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Buckhead Coalition and many others. He was involved with heart, kidney, leukemia and lymphoma organizations to support their efforts.

In 2011, he was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to serve on the Georgia Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee. A recipient of the 2010 American Hospital Association Grassroots Champion Award, Tim also received the 2008 Outstanding Alumnus Award by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Health Administration, as well as the 2008 American College of Healthcare Executives Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award for significant contributions to healthcare management excellence.

Tim was known for empowering employees, creating opportunities to achieve and shine, and he enjoyed engaging with hospital staffers whether serving meals in the cafeteria, helping out in surgical supply or cleaning hospital rooms. He relished developing leaders in his organizations and started the Women’s Leadership Alliance in 2006 (now numbering more than 1,700 members) to inspire more women to move into leadership positions.

His best advice to all was to live your passion and maintain balance between work and family. Tim’s goals early in life were to be a history teacher and football coach – both of which he fulfilled in numerous ways, professional and personally. He was a voracious reader of history and used his coaching skills mentoring and meeting with young people looking for guidance as well as coaching his children’s soccer and Little League teams. A huge fan of the University of Michigan football team and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tim developed an avid allegiance to the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons.

Tim’s own athletic pursuits were focused on being “a frustrated golfer” and a “failed outdoorsman” who enjoyed hotel visits more than camping. He was an enthusiastic traveler, loved beaches and most recently enjoyed family trips to Italy, Ireland and, in June, to Kiawah Island, S.C. and southeastern college campuses with his son, Matthew.

Tim inherited a love of gambling from his mother and enthusiastically “supported” the Hope Scholarship by purchasing lottery tickets. He loved movies (particularly Braveheart and Lord of the Rings), music (Moody Blues and Queen), Italian food and was known for grilling meat as well as having a more delicate touch cooking crepes for his son each morning. An inveterate sweet tooth, Tim loved red and black licorice, non-pareils and was known to pick up bags of candy while grocery shopping, a pursuit he particularly enjoyed. A man of selective indulgences, Tim loved his moped, his Jaguar and full closet of fine clothes.

Tim is survived by his wife, Mary, and three sons: Tim from New York City, Ryan and his wife, Patty, who live in Los Angeles and Matthew, of Atlanta. He is also survived by his brother, John Thomas “Rusty”Gilmore (Bonnie) of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and sisters, Debbie Potts (Chris) from Middletown, Del., Alice Dragovich of Pittsburgh, his step-father John “Jack” Gilmore and seven nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at H.M. Patterson & Son – Spring Hill Chapel, 1020 Spring Street, N.W. A memorial service will be held Friday, 1 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 435 Peachtree Street. In lieu of flowers, contributions made be made to the Piedmont Foundation, attention Mendal A. Bouknight, 1968 Peachtree Road, N.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30309.