John G. Stanley Jr. ’70

John died Dec. 22, 2015, after a short illness. He was a loyal, lifelong resident of Buffalo who lived much of his life in the house where he grew up.

Resplendent in his signature bowtie, he presided over his family business, the Stanley Steel Co., founded by his father and namesake in 1956. His personal devotion to the firm and its staff extended to his hospital bed, where he continued to sign payroll checks. “If your name were on the side of the building, you’d understand,” John said.

He came to us from Nichols School in Buffalo. At Princeton he worked on the engineering advisory council and was a member of Naval ROTC. He majored in basic engineering and wrote his thesis on nuclear reactors under Dean Menand, after a summer cruise aboard the submarine Alexander Hamilton prior to our senior year.

Always generous, he chaired the Nichols Alumni Association, served on the Buffalo Salvation Army board of directors, and was regional chair for the Princeton Schools Committee, as well as regional alumni association vice president.

John is survived by his wife, Mary Louise; son John Gill III; sister Chelsea Kehde; and brothers Christopher and Peter. The class extends our condolences and admiration for a true community leader.