Newport Beach man dies after car crash

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- A 71-year-old Newport Beach man suffering from heart

disease died early Monday after losing control of his car and crashing

into a street light on Von Karman Avenue, between MacArthur Boulevard and

Birch Street, officials said.

Joseph Stasch was heading southbound on Von Karman at 7:20 a.m. when

his medical condition caused him to lose control of his 1995 Lexus, hit

the west curb of the street and ram into the light pole, Newport Beach

police said.

Stasch was wearing his seat belt and the car’s air bags deployed, but

police and firefighters who tried to revive him on the scene were

unsuccessful.

According to the Orange County coroner’s office, Stasch died of

natural causes and did not suffer traumatic injuries in the collision.

Officials said his medical condition, described as “cardial myopathy,” or

failing of the heart muscles, caused him to lose control of the car.

Stasch, a resident of Newport Beach for 15 years, was actively

involved in “helping the community,” said his wife, Florence Stasch.

He was elected to the Airport Working Group Board of Directors in

October.

Stasch “was an outstanding individual and understood airport issues

very well,” said Tom Naughton, board president.

Stasch was headed to breakfast with Naughton and other board members

when the incident occurred.

“We were wondering why he didn’t show up and were shocked when we

learned about what had happened,” Naughton said. “It’s a terrible loss

for our group and for the community.”

Stasch strongly opposed the expansion of John Wayne Airport and was a

proponent of an airport in El Toro, his wife said.

“He was just so interested in everything going on,” she said. “He was

physically very active, and whatever he did, he gave it all he had.”

Stasch is survived by two children, two stepchildren and five

grandchildren.

He loved Newport Beach because he liked the “feeling of community,”

his wife said.

“He thought it had a small-town feel,” she said. “He loved that.”