Stanley J Dumovich's Obituary
Stanley Dumovich, 88, devoted husband, proud father, chemist, and athlete passed away January 18, 2020. A resident of Timber Pines, Florida, he and his dear wife, Elaine, moved from Ohio to spend 23 glorious years of retirement there.
Born on October 31, 1931, Stan grew up in Queens, NY and Chicago, IL with his brother, Anthony, and sister, Dorothy, and was raised by his Croatian parents, Mary and Anthony Dumovich.
As a youth, Stan played for the late great Roger Hornsby on his Liberty Division team sponsored by the Old Timers’ Baseball Association in Chicago and competed in the Annual Championship Playoffs at Wrigley Field. He was just 14 years old.
He excelled in baseball throughout his high school years as a fine pitcher.
Stan entered Cooper Union in NYC at age 16, turning down a contract to play with the Philadelphia Phillies after a tryout at Shibe Park. He played 4 years of college basketball, graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
As a college student, Stan spent a summer playing with the famed and bearded House of David semi-professional baseball team traveling by bus through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Canada.
He proudly served his country in the Army for 2 years.
Stan and Elaine met at a local church dance and within five years they wed on April 14, 1956. The couple was happily married for 63 years.
His professional career took he and his wife to Chicago, Houston, Delaware, Ohio, and New Jersey, a child born nearly every year, until there were five. Four girls and finally, the family namesake, a boy arrived.
Stan taught each of his children to fish, just as his father had piling all five kids into his dad’s boat on the Long Island Sound, learning first with drop lines and later graduating to fishing poles.
Stan took up tennis, loved the game and, known by all as one zealous competitor, entered and won many tournaments well into his eighties. He and his wife, Elaine, enjoyed years of playing both tennis and golf together.
They traveled to Egypt, Italy, Costa Rica, Turkey, Hawaii, Alaska and the Caribbean with friends and family. Summers were spent on Sanibel Island for many memorable family gatherings.
Stan was a devout Roman Catholic and a true follower of his faith. He was a thinker. He was a man of unwavering principles who lived his life by them. Compelled by his strong values, he sometimes found the need to voice his opinions which made their way into the newspaper or on-air TV commentary.
Stan was known to break out into impressive renditions of Man of La Mancha’s “Dulcinea” or “The Impossible Dream.” He loved food. He loved nature. Loved to tell a joke and to laugh. An avid shell collector, he spent hours on the beach in search of rare specimens.
A curious mind, Stan often took his lab skills into the kitchen conducting impromptu science experiments, much to his family’s amusement. Dinner table conversation inevitably led to quizzing his children on the periodic table or spatial geometry. He was one of a kind.
Stan’s family always came first. He was there for every child under every circumstance. He was always there for his wife. They made a great team. As parents and best friends. Two inseparable souls.
It was a wonderful life.
Stan will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Elaine, and five children, Sue Pierce of Long Branch, NJ, Cheryl (George) Dorsett of Alexandria, VA, Betsy (Chris) Hembling of Freehold, NJ, Patricia (Scott) Severson of Nokomis, FL, and Mark Dumovich (Michelle) of New Port Richey, FL. Also, his brothers-in law Donald (Shirley) Scippa, Francis Scippa, and William McCarthy, nieces, Kathryn (Helmut) McCarthy Relinger, Karen McCarthy, and nephew, William McCarthy and his wife. He was predeceased by his parents, brother, Anthony, and sister, Dorothy McCarthy.
His grandchildren, so proud to call him Grandpa and Pop Pop will miss him. Shannon Pierce, Michael Hembling, Dana Hembling, David Dorsett, Trinity Severson, Anna Dumovich, and Dominick Dumovich.
Husband. Daddy. Grandpa. Stan the man. What memories you’ve given us! How blessed we were to have you in our lives. We will keep you forever close in our hearts.
A funeral mass will be held at 11:00am on Friday, February 7, 2020 at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, 5030 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, Florida. A ceremony will follow graveside at Grace Memorial Gardens Cemetery, U.S. Highway 19 North, Hudson, Florida. Donations may be made in Stan’s name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
What’s your fondest memory of Stanley?
What’s a lesson you learned from Stanley?
Share a story where Stanley's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Stanley you’ll never forget.
How did Stanley make you smile?