When you hear the name Stephen Stark Delray Beach mentioned in conversation around South Florida lately, the tone usually shifts. It's heavy. People aren't just talking about a businessman or a neighbor; they are talking about a man who, along with his family, left a permanent mark on the community before a sudden, shattering tragedy in early 2025. Honestly, it’s one of those stories that stops you in your tracks because it reminds you how quickly everything can change in the blink of an eye.
Stephen wasn't just another guy living in a gated community. He was the President and part-owner of U.S. Info-Comm, Inc., a company that handled high-level communications and data infrastructure. But if you asked his friends, they wouldn't lead with his resume. They’d talk about his guitar playing, his obsession with Apple gadgets, or the way he’d drop everything to answer a phone call from his kids.
What Happened in Boca Raton?
The news cycle in April 2025 was dominated by a horrific accident that felt surreal. A Cessna 310, a twin-engine aircraft, went down near the intersection of Glades Road and Military Trail. It wasn't just a mechanical failure; it was a local heartbreak. Stephen Stark, aged 54, was on that plane. He wasn't alone. With him were his father, Robert "Bob" Stark, and his 17-year-old daughter, Brooke Stark.
The crash happened on a Friday morning, right near the I-95 overpass. Traffic stopped. People watched in horror. For the Delray Beach community, the aftermath wasn't about the wreckage or the FAA investigation; it was about the loss of three generations of one family in a single moment. It’s the kind of thing that makes a town feel smaller and much quieter.
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A Career Built on Integrity
Stephen moved to Florida early on, graduating from Boca Raton High School and then heading up to Gainesville to become a Florida Gator. After earning his business degree in 1992, he didn't just chase a paycheck. He built a reputation for being the guy who did things "the right way," even when it was the harder path to take.
At U.S. Info-Comm, he wasn't a "boss" in the corporate, stuffy sense. He was a leader who actually cared about precision. You've probably met people who talk a big game about ethics, but Stephen lived it. He was known for stopping mid-meeting to take a call from his wife, Amy, or his daughters. He lived by a simple rule: relationships first, business second.
The Impact on Delray Beach and Beyond
The reach of the Stark family in Delray Beach was deep. Brooke was a standout student at Atlantic Community High School, finishing up her International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma and serving as the President of the National Honor Society. When she died alongside her father, the school lost a leader, and the community lost a bright future.
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- Philanthropy: Stephen was deeply involved with the Guitar Center Music Foundation.
- Community: He was a regular in local circles, often found boating or planning his next family trip.
- Education: He was a lifelong learner who mentored younger professionals without looking down on them.
It's easy to look at a tragedy and see only the end. But the real story of Stephen Stark in Delray Beach is about the middle—the years spent building a business, raising a family, and being the kind of person people actually wanted to be around. He was magnetic. He had this quick-witted humor, often poking fun at his dad’s quirks, which made everyone in the room feel like they were part of the joke.
Why This Story Still Resonates
We often see news about "businessman dies in crash," and we scroll past. But this hit differently. Maybe it’s because the Starks were so integrated into the fabric of the area. Or maybe it’s because Stephen represented that "Florida Dream"—hard work, a love for the water, and a fierce devotion to family.
There are misconceptions, of course. Some people confuse him with other "Stephen Starks" in Florida—there’s a professor at USF and an attorney in the area. But the Stephen Stark of Delray Beach was the one who would play guitar for tips in his younger years and eventually became a pillar of the local tech and communications sector.
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Moving Forward and Honoring a Legacy
So, what do we do with a story like this? It’s not just about mourning. It’s about looking at how he lived. If you want to honor the memory of Stephen and Brooke Stark, look toward the organizations they cared about.
- Support Music Education: The Guitar Center Music Foundation was a big deal for Stephen. He loved his guitar, and he wanted others to have that same outlet.
- Health Research: The family supported the Children’s Tumor Foundation and Debra.org (focused on Epidermolysis Bullosa).
- Community Engagement: Simply being present. Stephen never missed a call. He always called back. In a world of "ghosting," that’s a legacy worth emulating.
The FAA will eventually release a final report on the Cessna 310 incident, but for those who knew him, the "why" of the crash matters less than the "who" of the man. Stephen Stark didn't just live in Delray Beach; he made it a better place to be.
Actionable Insights for the Delray Community:
- Safety First: If you are a private pilot or frequently fly out of Boca Raton Airport (BCT), stay updated on the FAA’s safety findings regarding twin-engine maintenance and urban flight paths.
- Charitable Giving: Direct your donations to the Glick Family Funeral Home’s suggested charities to ensure the Stark family's philanthropic goals continue.
- Mentorship: If you’re in the tech or communications industry in South Florida, consider mentoring a student from Atlantic Community High School in Brooke’s honor.