L to R: Stuart Cake, Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã's former COO, David Harnage and G.W. Thompson III, an Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã alum and former director of the Center for Major Explorations, receive awards at the University's 31st Founders' Day luncheon in November.
By Noell Saunders
Stuart Cake, an Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã alumnus, and former president and board member of ODU Town-N-Gown, died April 6.
Cake, a native of Hampton Roads, was an active participant in community functions and dedicated much of his life to helping others.
"Stuart was an ardent supporter of Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã who helped strengthen our connection with the community and provided local residents with a varied menu of opportunities to get more involved on campus," said Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã President John R. Broderick. "He was a terrific friend to many, including me."
Cake was a tireless volunteer with many organizations in the community over the years, including the Virginia Arts Festival; Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore; Back Bay Restoration Foundation; Pungo Strawberry Festival; Toys for Tots; the Virginia Zoo; and as a docent with the Virginia Air & Space Center, Nauticus, and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.
"This is certainly a tremendous loss," said Cecelia Tucker, Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University's assistant to the president for community relations. "I have known Stuart Cake, this larger than life icon, for well over two decades. We will miss his enthusiastic support for Town-N-Gown and Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University."
Cake served as a president at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, Tidewater Toastmasters, Oceanfront Jaycees and Bertha Snyder Children's Care Fund. He also served as a board and executive committee member for the Hampton Roads Navy League.
Cake received several awards throughout his career, including the Rita M. Costello Town-N-Gown Community Service Award; the Outstanding Volunteer Award for the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival and for VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads; Outstanding Member of Oceanfront Jaycees; and Jaycee of the Year for Beach Borough Jaycees.
After his retirement in 2015 from the Department of the Navy, Cake remained active on the board of directors for Town-N-Gown and as a member of the Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Alumni Association, Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Athletic Foundation and a host of other organizations.
A visitation for Cake will be held on Friday, April 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Altmeyer Funeral Home-Southside Chapel, located at 5792 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach. A funeral service will follow on Saturday, April 14 at 11 a.m. at Bayside Baptist Church, 1920 Pleasure House Road in Virginia Beach.
