Stanford Goldstoff

Stanford Goldstoff passed away on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, a short time after celebrating his 98th birthday at his home in Lancaster, PA, with his beloved wife Helen, his twin daughters Judy Sugarman, her husband John, Jan Goldstoff and her life partner David Minshall. He was the son of Dr. Peter and Helen Goldstoff. He had two sisters, Joan and Leonore, and a brother Jack. He is survived by many nieces and nephews; Philip Weiss, Manny Weiss, Dr. Michael Goldstoff and Dana Cahill, Elizabeth Levy, Pat Levy, and their extended families; and step-grandchildren Lori Sugarman and Gary Sugarman and step-great grandchild Nicolas Jaramillo. Stan grew up in Baldwin, NY. He attended Ohio State University. He was drafted and became an aviation cadet. Before going overseas, he married his childhood sweetheart, Helen Levy, on January 15, 1942 by a Justice of the Peace in Odessa Texas. They were married for 72 years! He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps during WWll as a navigator/bombardier and flew 53 missions. He was the navigator on a B-17 that took part in the very first “shuttle run” from Italy to Russia and then back to Italy. After the war, he took his wife and twin daughters to live in a farm house in East Granby and then to a home in West Hartford, CT. He worked for the General Cigar Company and became a Vice President and traveled the world going to such distant places as the Philippines and South America buying wrapper tobacco. What adventures he had! He came to Lancaster in 1962 to manage the Lancaster office and became the VP of the Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Board of Trade. He retired in 1986. Stan was a valued member of the community and the oldest surviving member of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim. Stan excelled at sports; he was a championship golfer and got at least one hole in one at the Meadia Heights Golf Club. He excelled at tennis, swimming, ping pong, and pool. He was an active member of the Lancaster Elks Club and in his 80’s he frequently won at pool. He had many hobbies; he loved to do crossword puzzles; and as a stamp collector he catalogued thousands of stamps. He was a pianist and sax player and in his early years he had his own band. He was a voracious reader. And he was a great dancer and danced at his 90th birthday party. Stan was loved by all who met or knew him. He was blessed to have loving and caring neighbors who became treasured friends and who participated in many of the family rituals. He was many things to many people but what he did best was to be a loving husband to his wife Helen and devoted father to his twin daughters. He taught his daughters and those whose lives he touched many empowering life lessons. He will be greatly missed! The funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, 75 East James Street, Lancaster PA 17602, followed by a service at the gravesite. Shiva will be observed one day only at the home of Helen Goldstoff immediately after the services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, Attn: Rabbi Jack P. Paskoff, 75 James Street, Lancaster PA 17602 or the charity of your choice. For more information contact The Groffs Family Funeral Services.