Robert G. Stahl Jr.

Robert Graham Stahl, Jr. passed away in his Southampton home on Saturday morning, April 24th, 2021, in the presence of family. As Pastor Bethany read the final quatrains of The Firefighter’s Prayer he found peace and he took his final breath.

“...I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,

to guard my neighbor and protect his property.

And if according to your will I have to lose my life,

bless with your protecting hand my loving family from strife.”

Bob was stubborn for all of his 69 and ¾ years. When he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2018 he was told he would survive one year. He made sure to fight it for three. He wanted to work, sit on the beach, spend time with family and friends, and see the Flyers win another Stanley Cup. But, mostly he wanted to tell the doctors he was right and they were wrong. He kept on working until 16 days before his death.

Bob was survived by his wife, Hanne (née Nielsen), whose love and support was his rock; his grandson Elias, who melted his heart (even if he loathe to admit it); his children Rob (wife Jennifer), Lauren, Peter, and Andrew; his siblings Betsy, Bev, and Bill; his Aunt Jean; and in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by countless friends and colleagues, students and disciples. If you’re reading this, you know who you are. Bob’s family would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the fellowship you extended him. Bob was not the most expressive man, but if he ever shared a laugh with you, or offered you a beer, then he appreciated you in his own way.

In our thoughts are also Bob’s parents, the late Beatrice and Robert Graham Stahl, Sr. Bob Sr. had difficult-to-meet expectations which drove Bob to work hard and strive for perfection. Bob was a lifelong resident of Southampton and graduated William Tennent High School in 1969. He attended Muhlenberg College which - according to his own stories - were primarily spent drinking beer with his ATO brothers. But after college, he worked with his father and brother at the family business - Stahl Chevrolet - and became Vice President. When his father sold the car dealership in 1989 it was a difficult time for him, but he remained focused and used the opportunity to turn his passion for firefighting into a career.

Bob proudly dedicated his life to fire safety and emergency services. He began volunteering at the Southampton Fire Company No. 1 in 1970. He was a life member, serving over 50 years including 5 years as Fire Chief. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fire Service Administration and Environmental Protection & Safety Management. At various times he served and provided leadership for Bucks County HazMat and Bucks Technical Rescue, MontCo HazMat, and Abington and Springettsbury Townships.

He also served at the national and international level as a National Fire Academy (NFA) instructor for 25 years, a past President of the Eastern Division (ED) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and a member of the International Code Council (ICC). He started his own business - Integrated Safety Response Technologies (ISRT) - consulting with companies and training safety professionals in 40+ U.S. states.

His credentials on his LinkedIn page are “CSP, CHMM, CFPS, MIFireE.” All of this might seem like a bowl of alphabet soup, but it represents Bob’s lifetime of experience and wisdom. When it came to fire safety, Bob was usually the most knowledgeable person in the room, and he wasn’t afraid to let you know it. If you’ve spent any time with Bob, you’re sure to have caught him snapping a picture of a code violation and composing a sharply worded email to the local fire marshall.

Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond the confines of his career. There are stories of Bob selling 25 cent Schaefers at the fire hall after drill. (He only made a modest profit off his friends.) From Bob Sr. he learned the art of pinching pennies. He clipped coupons, bought in bulk, and knew how to make every work trip into a vacation. (Lots of safety training is needed in Hawaii!) In his garage you’ll find broken fire gear from 1972. You know, just in case? You’ll also find no less than four promotional Lenny Dykstra posters from the ‘93 National League Championship. (Does anybody need a garage full of Rubbermaid containers stacked twelve high?) And yet, when it came to vacations, sporting events, and a certain 5-year old grandson with a LEGO obsession, Bob’s generosity was limitless.

Bob’s further passions included attending as many Phillies and Flyers games, and as many sunsets at the beach with a beer in hand, as is humanly possible. His favorite places were Ocean City, NJ, where the Stahl family gathered in the summertime (and Bob Sr. always splurged for a big seafood meal from Campbell’s), and later Nags Head, NC where he traveled with Hanne and friends every summer. In his youth he was active in North & Southampton Reformed Church and achieved Eagle Scout. He was a founding member of the Centennial Education Foundation. He was a soccer player and referee, and an avid and often very animated sideline coach at his kids’ sports games.

Yesterday Hanne received a call that someone had been using Bob’s Hilton Rewards points in the days since his passing. It could be fraud. Equally likely scenario: as you read this Bob is booked into the best Hilton in Heaven and is in the members lounge stuffing the pockets of his black Dickies with free snacks. See you at happy hour, Dad.

In lieu of flowers please honor Bob’s years of fire service by making a donation in his name to:

-Southampton Fire Company www.southamptonfire.com

-The National Fallen Firefighter Foundation www.firehero.org