Rudolph A. Stanzel, Jr. (1931-2015)

FORT MEYERS, Florida – Rudolph A. Stanzel, Jr., “Rudy,” 83, of Fort Myers, Florida and Porter Lake, Maine, passed peacefully on Friday, April 17, 2015, at Hope Hospice at Shell Point in Fort Myers.

Born on June 29, 1931, in Westfield, N.J., he was the son of Janet (McFarlane) and Rudolph A. Stanzel, Sr. He was a 1949 graduate of Westfield High School where he captained the baseball team and led the Blue Devils to their only state championship. He was recently elected to the Westfield Athletic Hall of Fame.

His baseball acumen led to a full scholarship from Rutgers University where he was a captain and three-year starter at third base, graduating in 1953 with a BS in education. Drafted in 1953 by the Chicago White Sox, Rudy batted .330 for the Danville Dans in Class “D” ball before obligations to his country required his services in Korea.

As a first lieutenant in the USAF, Rudy earned several service medals as a Squadron Intercept Controller. Upon discharge from the service, Rudy began his teaching career and met the love of his life, Marguerite Ann Craig “Peg,” while teaching at an American school in Germany. Together they settled in Westfield and raised a family of four.

Rudy was a loyal, loving husband; a kind, but firm father, a coach, and a mentor. He gave his family the gift of summers in Maine and he gave his wife the gift of an interesting, engaging retirement. Rudy and Peg split time at the family cottage in Maine, and in Ft. Myers, Florida following Rudy’s successful 33-year career as a science teacher in the Watchung and Chatham Twp. school districts. They traveled the world, visiting many of the spots they had loved as a young couple in Europe. Rudy had a thirst for knowledge, electing to stay at Elder hostels, which provided an education component for each trip.

Retirement for Rudy meant staying active; playing golf and tennis, attending Minnesota Twins spring training games and regularly working with Habitat for Humanity.

He is loved and will be missed by his family; his wife and care giver, Marguerite “Peg” Stanzel of Fort Myers, Florida and Porter Lake, Maine; their children: John Craig Stanzel and his wife, Jenny of Manchester, N.H. and their children Brittany, Craig, and Jeffrey; William Rudolph Stanzel and his wife Stacey of Basking Ridge, N.J. and their children Kyle, and Alex; Joan Rosati and her husband Ronald of Crofton, Maryland and their children: Nicholas, Alexander, Christopher, and Katie; Paul Matthew Stanzel and his wife Katherine of Vienna, Maine and their children: Madelynn, and Annebelle; a sister Jesse Goehner and her husband Ronald of Wayne, N.J.; as well as many other relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday July 25, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road (Rtes. 2 & 27), Farmington. Following the service, a reception will be held at the center. All are welcome. Remembrance gifts may be given in his memory to either the New Vineyard Public Library, 20 Lake Street, New Vineyard, ME 04956 or Habitat for Humanity. Tributes and condolences may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.