Charles B. Slack, 87, prominent South Jersey publisher

Charles B. Slack and his wife created a Thorofare, Gloucester County, publishing house, Slack Inc., that focused on health care and education. When an unknown author wanted three books published, on a topic that was not part of the business model, Mr. Slack agreed to read one of the manuscripts.

Mr. Slack was so moved by the writing in Love that he told Leo Buscaglia his company would publish the books. It was a risk that turned out well as the three nonfiction books, including Bus 9 to Paradise and Loving Each Other became New York Times bestsellers, with millions of copies sold in hardback and paperback.

On Saturday, May 27, Mr. Slack, 87, died while hospitalized in Palm Desert, Calif, where he had gallbladder surgery. He had retired on the West Coast with his second wife, Elizabeth, after raising his family in Pitman, expanding his business, serving on the Pitman Board of Education, and starting Wise Men, a volunteer organization with the local YMCA, said his son, Peter, who took ownership of his father's company.

"Our dad thought it was very important to learn the value of hard work to earn a good living. He instilled this in us from a very early age," the son said. "Part of his advice regarding this was to read everything we can, learn as much as you can, and opportunity will come your way."

Mr. Slack met his first wife, Barbara, while the two attended Rutgers University. There, he joined the ROTC, later serving in Japan with the Air Force after the Korean War. The couple's other son, Walter, was born while the couple was overseas.

In the 1950s, Mr. Slack worked with his father selling advertising for nursing journals. By the 1960s, he and his wife had founded Charles B. Slack Inc., which later became the Wyanoke Group, specializing in health-care and education publications. Barbara Slack, who died of cancer in 2007, oversaw production and was the editor of Buscaglia's manuscripts, publishing a total of 10 books.

John C. Carter, chief operating officer of the Wyanoke Group, said Mr. Slack had great vision.

"Charles was always interested in creating new products," he said.

Mr. Slack's children began working for the business at a young age, sorting letters in the mailroom and working their way through the company in various positions. When their dad retired, the sons bought the business. Peter bought Walter's share when Walter retired.

Mr. Slack created his company at a time he saw health-care transforming with specialty doctors. Once his publications took off, Mr. Slack was approached by numerous doctors, and began coordinating educational activities and helped develop associations to represent  specialties within medicine.

Slack became the "central office" for more than 10 major medical subspecialty societies in their early stages, including the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Federation for Clinical Research, his son said.

His relationship with Buscaglia endured for decades. Buscaglia became such a popular author and speaker that the big publishing companies that initially turned him down began seeking his business. He remained loyal to the Slack family.

Buscaglia told the New York Times in 1986 that he would die as one of Slack's authors. He died in 1998. In the same Times article, Mr. Slack was quoted as saying, "I read Love on my couch one Sunday afternoon, and it made me cry. 'I decided, if it was that touching to me, I'd publish him even if we didn't make money."

The two became such good friends that Buscaglia vacationed with the Slacks. When Buscaglia needed emergency bypass surgery in California, Mr. Slack flew from New Jersey, staying in a nearby hotel until his friend was in recovery, according to the Times.

"You can't buy that kind of friendship," Buscaglia told the Times. "I think it was Faulkner who said, if you ever find a human publisher, stay with him forever, and I think that is still good advice."

In addition to his sons and wife, Mr. Slack is survived by a daughter, Susan Slack Budd, and seven grandchildren.

A brief graveside service is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, at 11 a.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 500 Delsea Dr., Sewell, N.J. Guests are invited to a lunch that will follow.

Donations may be made to the Leo Buscaglia Foundation, Box 265, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. 90274.