STANLEY BERTRAM SMULYAN

Stanley Bertram Smulyan passed away peacefully at home in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Day, November 13, 2022 at age 94, in the presence of loved ones after a brief bout of cancer.

He is survived by his partner of seven years, Terry Nelson, his two children, Deborah and David Smulyan, his daughter-in-law Betty Smulyan, and three adoring grandchildren, Stephanie, Sam, and Xochi.

Preceding him in death are Gladys Smulyan, his mother, Myra Smulyan, his wife of 61 years, and his sister, Lois Sugar. Stanley was born in Scranton, PA on February 3, 1928 and grew up in Wilkes-Barre. He graduated from Meyers High School in 1946 and was awarded a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania, where he joined the Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity. He graduated in 1950, and returned to Wilkes-Barre, accepting a management position at Sperling Tobacco, a wholesale business he later purchased. In 1951, Stanley proudly joined Fox Hill Country Club, and has the distinction of being the longest tenured member in its history. Stanley married Myra Zeff Kornzweig in 1953. That same year he was drafted into the US Army receiving specialized training to provide psychological services in the medical corps.

After retiring in 1997, Stanley and Myra spent winters at The Landings in Fort Myers, FLA, where they made deep, year-round friendships. In 2003 Stanley and Myra celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, feted by family and friends, and reached another milestone 60th wedding anniversary in 2013. Stanley was universally loved, no matter who you ask. He was well-read, worldly, intellectually curious and professionally accomplished, but admired and appreciated most for his sincerity, generosity, decency and genuine lust for life. Stanley lived for the game of golf, was a much sought after bridge partner, and could not go a day without reading his New York Times and doing the paper’s crossword puzzle. Seven years ago, Stanley and Terry Nelson of Wilkes-Barre met and formed a lasting relationship. Their romance reminds us it’s never too late for love. Stanley was one of a kind, and the love he leaves in his wake will last forever.

Funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the Rosenberg Funeral Chapel, Inc., 348 S. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, with Rabbi Larry Kaplan and Cantor Ahron Abraham officiating. Interment will follow in Temple Israel Cemetery, 212 Dennison Street, Swoyersville.

Those wishing to pay their respects to the family are invited to come to 94 Lathrop Street, Kingston between 4:00 and 7:00 PM. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the loving, warm staff at Erwine Home Health and Hospice for their care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund through Global Giving at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/ or details to pay by check: https://www.globalgiving.org/dy/v2/checkout/billing/

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