Stanley "Stan" Whittemore
Burial Details
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - January 18, 2015
After singing “Fly Me To The Moon”, with a compassionate hand on his heart and a gentle kiss on his cheek, Stan asked “Am I in Heaven?” -- Stan peacefully passed away on January 16, 2015 at the Yampa Valley Medical Center at the age of 96!
Stan and Essie, his beloved wife, raised their seven children in Winnetka, Illinois, before moving to Steamboat where they resettled 36 years ago. They simply fell in love with the Steamboat Community and they both quickly became very involved. Stan loved singing, and he found an outlet in the choir at the United Methodist Church where he and Essie were very active members. Stan started the men’s Information Volunteer group (the IV’s) at the Yampa Valley Medical Center and he and Essie were awarded the “Silver Stars” in 1998 for their fund-raising efforts for the YVMC. Stan was President of the Arts Council in the early years. He drove the golf cart at the Botanic Garden for many summers; volunteered for Strings in the Mountains, was involved with Horizons, Lift-up, Sister Cities and he served on the Steamboat Orchestra Board. He had a passion for tennis and played well into his 90’s with his buddies. Stan was a big supporter of local sports teams, and was honored by the Steamboat Springs Booster Club by being awarded the “Fan of the Year” Award in 2013. Despite the sudden loss of Essie, the love of his life, in 1999, Stan continued on with his community involvement.
Stan graduated from Evanston High School and then Amherst College where he was a member of the Chi Psi Fraternity and where he played football. Near the end of his senior year he was introduced to his bride to be by his dear sister, Betty, who was a classmate of Essie’s. Stan and Essie were married after a year of courtship and went to Chicago to carry on their life together. He became a Naval Officer during WW II and proudly served for four years, leaving the Navy as a Lieutenant. He then returned to Winnetka and the children kept coming, and coming. He worked as a manufacturers representative, with his father and brother, at the A.L.Whittemore Co. his whole career. Stan is survived by his seven children: Suzanne (Jim) Donohue of Beaver Creek, Colorado, Kathryn (Gordon) Adams of Whidbey Island Washington, Lynn (Bill) Davis, Terry (John) Sherrill, Bill Whittemore, all of Steamboat, Stan Whittemore Jr (Andy Gorski) of Deer Isle Maine, and Anne (Craig) Wickman of Ashland Wisconsin. He was the very proud grandfather of 14, and he remarkably attended the weddings of all 14. He leaves behind 30 great-grandchildren, plus one who predeceased him, and how fortunate they are to have known their “Pop”.
Stan was predeceased by his parents, Ethel and Aubrey Whittemore and his siblings, Dr. Aubrey Whittemore, C. Phillips Whittemore, and Elizabeth Farnum.
Stan was beloved by all who knew him. He had friends of all ages who cared about him and helped keep him young at heart. He passed on important values to his large family and many friends. Amongst the most significant values are humility, kindness, a sense of humor, genuine concern for others, honesty, responsibility, and a sense of fun. His smile was infectious and the twinkle in his eye was always there. Truly, his was a good life, well lived.
A memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church of Steamboat Springs at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. In recognition of Stan’s devotion to the Steamboat Community, please consider memorial donations to your favorite local charity.
