Obituary of Lillian Spitzer Stamler

Lillian Spitzer Stamler 96 of Stony Creek, CT wife of the late Judge Joseph H. Stamler, passed away peacefully at home on May 27, 2016 surrounded by family. She was born June 13, 1919 in Brooklyn to Benjamin and Beatrice Salzman Spitzer. Lillian is survived by two sons: Joseph H. Stamler, Jr. 74 and his wife Ann of Fairfield, CT and S. Paul Stamler 69 of Stony Creek, along with Paul’s children, Abbi, Reed and Teddy Stamler, and a sister, Jean Krosner. A graduate of Adelphi Academy and Centenary Junior College, Lillian raised her family in Summit, NJ, and in Stony Creek, CT. She transcribed books into Braille and later taught others to do so. Having summered in Stony Creek since childhood, she and her husband moved there permanently on his retirement from the bench. Friends and neighbors could set their watches by the Stamlers’ morning and evening walks with their dog. Because of experience with her mother, who benefited from the hospice model before it was established in this country, Lillian and Joseph were founding members of the Board of Directors of the first U.S. Hospice, located in Branford, and she volunteered there for many years. She was an active member of the Branford Garden Club and the League of Women Voters, and worked hard to prevent the construction of a pipeline across Long Island Sound that would adversely affect the waters and shoreline of the community she loved. A private graveside service was planned at the family plot in Stony Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to CT Hospice Home Care, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405, or The Seeing Eye, PO Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07963-0375. Funeral services are under the care of Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home (Clancy Funeral Home), East Haven.