Frank Richard Stola

Frank R. Stola, age 82, passed away June 3, 2021 surrounded by his family in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Frank was born in The Bronx, NY on November 7, 1938 to Mary and Albert Stola. He moved to Yonkers, NY and graduated from Roosevelt High School Class of 1956. Frank attended Pratt Institute and studied Architecture.

Frank began his career in commercial construction management with Morris Park Contracting Company. A career spanning 30 years where he retired as Vice President.

He married his high school sweetheart on August 20, 1959, Anne Mitcheltree, and they had 5 children together. In 1967, they moved to Valley Cottage, New York; where they raised their family for 18 years.

His second marriage was to Sherri Austin in 1985, which led him to relocate to Secaucus, NJ. A few years later, after retirement, Frank subsequently began his second career as a franchise business owner/operator at Manhattan Bagel; relocating to Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Frank truly enjoyed the relationships he established with his customers.

Frank retired again 10 years later; after building a successful and fulfilling franchise, only to obtain a real estate license and dabble in real estate in Florida with his companion, Joyce Hyland.

In 2018, Frank relocated to Hilton Head to be closer to his family while he battled various health ailments. In his final years, he particularly enjoyed being able to see his grandkids participate in sports at St. Francis Catholic School and Hilton Head Island High School, so he could assist the refs in calling proper fouls and help “coach” the kids. Anyone seated by him in the stands can attest to this.

Frank was an outstanding natural athlete. He excelled at football, baseball and basketball in high school, while playing both baseball and basketball at Pratt where he led the basketball conference in scoring in 1958.

From 1962-1966, he also starred on the 5- time New York State Championship Softball team playing for Stotz Garage. Frank often batted cleanup for these powerhouse teams, stocked with former professional ball players. In the Slo-Pitch World Championships, held in Cleveland, OH, he set records for: most runs, most home runs, and most consecutive home runs by a player.

Later in life Frank became an avid golfer, lowering his handicap into the single digits. He holds a certificate for his “hole in one” with the National Hole-In-One Registry at Dennis Highlands Golf Course in Dennis, MA.

His passion for sports and family also led him to a long and impactful coaching career in youth baseball and football. He coached Valley Cottage Indians Pop Warner football teams and  the Nyack-Valley Cottage Little League Yankees to multiple county championships. An innovator, his 1970s baseball teams were some of the first to include girls on the boy’s league teams.

Frank was a lifelong New York Yankees fan, and later on adopting the Miami Heat basketball team. But he mostly enjoyed watching his grandchildren play collegiate lacrosse, football and wrestling at Army, Navy, Loyola, Williams, Newberry, Colgate and Ithaca.

Frank is survived by three children, including Russell Stola and his wife Josephine of Wantagh, NY, Frank Stola and his wife Nicole of Northport, NY, and Laura (Stola) Christie and husband Bill of Hilton Head Island SC; sister, Marianne (Stola) Bianchi of Tamarac, FL and brother, Al Stola of Ft Lauderdale, FL; as well as his children’s mother Anne Meara of Sun City, SC. Gramps pride and joy were his grandchildren and he leaves 14 behind, Katie Benton(33), Sean O’Sulivan(32), Amanda Kruchko(30), Ryan O’Sullivan(28), Nicholas Stola(27), Taylor Christie(27), Molly Kadlubowski(25), Andrew Christie(24), Alexa Stola(23), Frankie Stola(22), Billy Christie(22), Ben Stola(20), Rocco Stola(18), and Ella Christie(15).

Gramps will join his beloved late children, Mandy (Stola) O’Sullivan and Francis Stola in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Frank loved life and being surrounded by his family and friends. His quick wit and keen sense of humor endeared him to many. He particularly enjoyed spending his time near the ocean at his homes in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, Cancun, Mexico, and Cape Cod, MA., where he vacationed with family throughout his life.

May Frank be remembered with laughter and joy by all who knew and loved him. The family is planning private services at a later date in Cape Cod and Hilton Head to celebrate Frank’s life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Frank to Pancan.org to honor him in support of his loving daughter, Mandy who battled this horrible disease for 2 years.

We would like to thank Sissy and Loving Arms Health for helping to take such great care of Frank and making sure he got to go on his infamous Walmart runs. Also, to all of his doctors for their guidance, support and patience.