John von Stade, former president of National Museum of Racing, dead at 83

John T. von Stade, a former president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and a longtime co-chairman of the Far Hills steeplechase meeting in New Jersey, died on Nov. 25 at his home in Maryland after a long illness, according to the Hall of Fame. He was 83.

Von Stade was the president of the museum and Hall of Fame from 1989 to 2005, the longest tenure in the museum's history, after serving 10 years as a trustee. During his time as president, the museum expanded to 45,000 square feet as part of an $18 million modernization project. After serving as president, von Stade remained a trustee.

A son of the founder of the racing museum, von Stade participated briefly in Thoroughbred ownership, and several of his partnership's runners were steeplechase horses. He was co-chair at Far Hills for five decades, and "did everything from bedding stalls at the stables to putting up snow fencing," according to the museum. Far Hills eventually grew into the richest one-day event in steeplechase racing in the U.S.

"He was an art lover, he was a historian," said Guy Torsilieri, a longtime leader at the National Steeplechase Association and Far Hills who worked with von Stade for 35 years. "He had an incredible way about him, so gentle and focused. He knew which way things needed to go and should go."

In 1995, von Stade was selected to receive the F. Ambrose Clark award, the highest award in steeplechase racing.

Von Stade is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his son, John von Stade Jr., and Phyllis's three daughters.