Stanley, more commonly known by Stan to his family and friends, grew up in San Clemente, California. Stan referred to himself as a “beach kid” because of his love for surfing and fishing off the pier.

After graduating high school, Stan was working as a school bus driver when he applied to become a firefighter for CDF (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection). Stan was hired on July 1, 1973. He then went to paramedic school and became an engineer in January 1975. He was promoted to fire captain in 1977. Stan transferred to the Riverside Ranger Unit (RRU), Elsinore Forest Fire Station, in 1979. He enjoyed the wildland fire activity in RRU. Stan transferred to the CDF Academy in 1982, teaching HazMat, structure fire control, and the flammable liquid fire control class. Stan really enjoyed this assignment and was promoted to battalion chief at the CDF Academy in 1984. Stan watched many come through the academy and truly left his imprint on hundreds of CDF firefighters and engineers. In 1986, Stan moved to the Madera-Mariposa Unit, where he spoke fondly of working closely with the young firefighters and many of his former academy partners. Stan was promoted to assistant chief of the Madera Division in 1990 and was instrumental in developing and implementing the City of Madera Cooperative Agreement that began in 1993. Stan was promoted to unit chief of the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit in 2000. He led the unit until his first retirement in 2004.

Even in retirement, Stan continued to work for the department in various capacities as an annuitant. He completed various departmental program studies and filled in as the acting unit chief in the Fresno-Kings Unit. Stan was reinstated to deputy chief of the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit in 2007. In 2009, Stan was seeking another challenge and accepted the staff chief of management services position.
Stan was promoted once again to assistant region chief on January 1, 2011. Stan was a member of the Statewide Management Council and provided an invaluable historical perspective on many issues. Stan was an integral part of the Southern Region Leadership Team until his second retirement on October 30, 2013. Stan continued assisting as a retired annuitant until his cancer diagnosis in February 2019.

On a more personal note, Stan enjoyed camping in his motorhome in Pismo Beach, becoming a ski instructor for the Mountain Area Ski School, and spending time with his family and friends. Stan had a heart of gold and is dearly missed by everybody who knew him.