Dr. Margaret Stacklum
SUNY New Paltz Prof., 71

Margaret M. Stacklum, professor of nursing at SUNY New Paltz, died on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at her home in Wurtsboro with her devoted husband at her side.  She was 71.
The daughter of the late Robert J. Stacklum and Margaret H. Flannery Stacklum, she was born in Newburgh on April 18, 1938. 
A dedicated nurse educator, Dr. Stacklum was one of the founding members of the Department of Nursing at SUNY New Paltz.  Prior to joining the nursing faculty at New Paltz, she taught at Hunter College and at the City College of New York. 
Dr. Stacklum developed the much lauded and highly successful Diploma-To-Degree Program at SUNY New Paltz. Many of these graduates went on to advance education and leadership positions in nursing. She was honored with an Excellent in Nursing Award in May 2006 and was recognized in a Special Tribute to Nurses for outstanding professional contribution in the New York Times on November, 2008.  Dr. Stacklum also worked as head nurse and clinical nurse specialist in the psychiatric unit at Bellevue Hospital in NYC.
She and her husband divided their time among their homes in Wurtsboro; St. Augustine, Florida; and Viepri in Umbria, Italy. Her daughter said, “She was an inspiration to everyone who had met her and had known her.”
Dr. Stacklum is survived by her husband of 27 years, Thomas A. Helms, at home; three children, Shauna L. Baird and her husband Brian of Warwick, Scott T. Helms of Wurtsboro, and Brenda A. Caruso of Vernon, NJ; three grandchildren, Nicole Caruso, Cory Caruso and Mackenzie Baird; and many cousins and friends.  
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 26 from 7-9 p.m. at the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro with Fr. Peter Madori officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Newburgh.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Wurtsboro. For additional information please visit www.kenny funeralhome.com