By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Residents from several groups in Ocean Grove will gather together next week to pay tribute to a man who reached out and touched them all.
Dr. George Fey Stoll, affectionately know as ‘Doc Stoll’ will be honored Aug. 28 at the Youth Temple beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Organizers of the event, John Shaw, Cate Comerford and Connie Ogden, recalled Stolls life last week as they made preparations for the memorial, where 200 people are expected.
All three said it will be “a celebration of Stoll’s extraordinary life.”
Stoll, a medical doctor who grew up in Ocean Grove, still spent his summers here, while he practiced medicine in the Montclair/Glen Ridge area.
Stoll was an auditorium usher at the Great Auditorium for 75 years, but his interests reached far and wide. He died this past winter. He was in his early 90’s.
After retiring from medicine Stoll and his wife Mary Louise moved full time to Ocean Grove, where the couple quickly began volunteering in several organizations.
They had two daughters, one of whom lives in Iowa and another who is deceased.
A nephew who lives in town will attend the memorial.
Ogden, an organizer of the event, said Stoll’s wife predeceased him. He took care of her right up until the “bitter end,” she said.
Stoll was also a Camp Meeting Trustee since 1987, where he undertook an enormous fund-raising effort to renovate the auditorium.
“Even before he became a trustee he took on the restoration project,” Shaw said.”He saw a need of major restoration early in the 80’s.”
Shaw, who is an association trustee said, “He raised thousands and thousands of dollars and he did it for 10 years or more.”
Stoll also took over the restoration of the Tabernacle and construction of the new Youth Temple
Describing his appeal Shaw said, “It was his general low key demeanor. He had a way of endearing himself to everyone he would meet.”
“But he was able to get money too, so it was endearment with a handout,” Ogden added.
Shaw said when Randy Bishop, current Neptune mayor met with Stoll after he moved back into town, Shaw said they found they had a similar vision of restoration of the town and its hotels.
“Doc was all about what could be done, instead of can’t be done,” Shaw said.
Comerford, a member of Ocean Grove United, said what she most admired about Stoll was his broad mindedness.
“He was pretty open minded, he reached out into all parts of the community,” she said.”He was very forward thinking.”
In fact, that is one of the prime reasons for the special memorial celebration, to bring all groups in the community together.
“Summer residents will be able to take part; that’s why it’s important to have it now,” said Ogden, who was a neighbor of Stoll’s on Central Avenue growing up. “I’ve known him for 40 years.”
Ogden, who is a member of the Ocean Grove Beautification committee, remembered Stoll being interested in environmental issues.
“He was there for the lake plantings,” she said. “He had a sincere concern about the town and the community, he wanted to be involved.”
Shaw also remembered the Stoll’s opening and maintaining the Camp Meeting Association’s bookstore after Labor Day until Christmas.
“Every weekend they were there,” he said.
Now that both are dead the book store closes on Labor Day.
All three said Stoll remained independent, living in his own home until a fall several months before he died, sent him to a rehab facility.
But even there Stoll was called on to continue the bible study group he started when Mary Louise was in the same facility years before.
“When he got there, everybody knew him,” Shaw said.
Stoll, said Shaw, managed to stay upbeat even at the nursing facility.
Before heading out to his physical therapy sessions Shaw said, “He would say I’m going to the gym.”
The event on Aug. 28 is going to be an informal gathering, with three to four speakers, who will discuss how Stoll affected them, a video of Stoll’s life, previously shown at his memorial service and the singing of his favorite hymn, “How Great Thou Art.”
Afterwards a social hour will be held with refreshments.
The best thing said Ogden is having all groups getting together under one roof and united “the entire community coming together.”
“He really was a Renaissance Man,” Shaw added.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
