from Dave Norby

We remember Stan mostly for his contributions of time and resource to the Blackhawk Ski Club. Stan also left a great legacy in the hearts of those he came in contact with. Here are some of the things I remember most about Stan.

My first memories of Stan were at Bradley Hill adjacent to Shorewood Grade School. It was in the late 1940's and I remember Stan ski-jumping with Art Daggett, Art Richardson, the Duckwitz family, the Jacobson family and many other local jumpers of that era. I can close my eyes and still see those sunny, cold Saturday and Sunday afternoons at the Shorewood jump. It seems like only yesterday as those memories were so much a part of my growing up.

Stan was instrumental in purchasing the first parcel of land on Blackhawk Road. He was an organizer and just took on the responsibility to see to it that the work got done. And it did! From building jumps to tree planting Stan was always "at the hill" pitching in and planning the next project.

As a junior jumper in 1956 I qualified to travel to Winter Park, Colorado for the National Junior Championships. We drove all the way to Colorado in Stan's green 1955 four door Plymouth. This was long before the interstate highway system. Stan and my dad formed a great relationship on that trip and were good friends for many years working on projects at the ski hill. My dad was a bricklayer in my youth and he laid every block in the 60m judges stand. Of course Stan designed it. And like many of Stan's efforts, they still stand and are used today and will be used well into the future.

Were it not for Stan's efforts, Bill Bakke, Kurt Stein, and myself would never have had the opportunity to experience the Olympics as athletes. Bill and I made the team in 1968 after two qualifying competitions in Lake Placid and two in Iron Mountain. I will never forget Stan and Bill's father Gus standing there at the top of the hill crying like babies with tears of joy upon hearing that two Blackhawk members finally made an Olympic Team. It was as much a highlight of Stan's life as it was Billy's and mine. He worked as hard toward it as any of us.

My father was much like Stan in that he was "as honest as the day is long" and got more out of working on things to help others rather than anything he ever did for himself. Three days before my father died he was delirious in the hospital with a broken hip. As I was walking beside the gurney to the operating room dad was telling me he had completed something he had made in his little workshop for Stan and that I needed to notify Stan as soon as I could. He also mentioned the owner of a company he had worked for as that man too was a fine upstanding individual that dad looked up to. It always impressed me that Stan would have such a deep lasting impression on a person that they would recall the name in a positive way when they were mentally not in control.

Stan never had any children but he took parental pride in every kid that learned how to ski at Blackhawk. I am grateful that I was one of Stan's "kids".

To sum up what impression Stan left most to me was that he was a "humble giver". He was the perfect example of a person that gave of his time and resources to a passion he had. Stan never expected anything in return and would actually be embarrassed when honored in any way.

The father of Blackhawk is gone now but his memory will live on for generations to come at that wonderful place he gave so much to create.

All of us are better people just for having known such a unique individual.

from Tom Ricchio, Iola Winter Sports Club

I can't even begin to think of how many years I knew Stan, but he was one of the guys that really stood out at a particular hill. In his case it was Blackhawk.

There are only a few people I think of that when I go to a hill somewhere that I feel an emptiness about the place without their presence. People like Leonard Goodness at Tri-Norse, Bobby Immens at Norge, or Brady Emerson at Racine. Stan is the one I will think of, and miss, whenever I go to Blackhawk. He was such a part of the club, almost a part of the hill. And really, with all of the time and effort he put into the hill, he really is, and will always be, a part of the hill at Blackhawk.

Several years ago I was looking for an old pair of hickory skis for my rec room and happened to ask Stan if he knew of someone who may have a pair. He said that he didn't, and to my surprise, about three hours later he came up to me with an old pair of his skis, and said that he would like me to have them. They are a beautiful pair of wooden skis that I am honored to have hanging in my ski room. I had a small plaque made up with Stan's name engraved on them, so whomever the future keepers of his skis, they will always know who actually jumped on them.

He was a great man, a great friend, and I will miss him for sure.

from Matt Williamson

I was involved at Blackhawk from 1968 - 1976 as a competive ski jumper. They were fantastic years as I got to spend alot of time working at the jumps with my dad (Rollie Williamson) and numerous others who became great friends.

Unfortunately I was not able to get to Madison for the services which is too bad. Even though I have not been a part of the club in ages I have always dreaded this day. I know Stan struggled in the past few years but the Stan I remember was the very fabric of Blackhawk Ski Club. I was always inspired by how a man who never used the club for personal enjoyment....skiing, found so much enjoyment in being a part of it and doing things none of us wanted to do. I remember showing up on many nights, going to the pump house in the pitch black with Gene Burmeister, only to find Stan there all by himself in his trademark brown coveralls covered in grease, hands covered in grease, as he tried to get the pump fixed so we could make snow or water the plastic. Another day it would be the compressor and so on. Gene and I were there motivated by the thought of getting the jumps snowed to fufill our skiing dreams.

I was always in awe of Stan, not only because he was my elder, but also because of his undieing commitment to BSC for no real gain I could see. As I grew older, I came to appreciate his real motivation which was love of the club, the sport, the joys of fixing things and just futzing around and the friendships he had at the club. My dad being one of the people who benefitted from Stan "the man" and the close relationship they forged over the years. I remember like it was yesterday when Stan announcing my name on the loudspeaker during our annual ski jumping tournament on the "A" hill and saying "watch him go". I always felt good about that as I always took it as a vote of confidence from Stan about my upcoming jump.

Now Stan is gone but his work at the club will benefit many in the future who may know him in name only. Watch him go!!