Stafford, it’s been four years, my brother but it feels like yesterday.

A cocktail, some great shared stories and just being next to you made my day more often than I can even recount now. 

There’s very little time to be sad these days, so I try to focus on all the memories and the damn good times - luckily, there were many.

Here’s to the real Hollywood cowboys. ✌🏼❤️

- Bo

I am Stafford’s cousin.  His father and my father (Bill) were brothers.  My father passed away shortly after Stafford had lived with him for a brief time.  My last conversation with Stafford was when I notified him of my fathers passing.  I will always remember Stafford as the life of the party.   I just felt like looking into his whereabouts and found his obituary, I want to pass on my condolences to the family and I hope one of the family members decides to contact me.  Love Bill Jr.

My mom, Collette (Vyzral) Wojcik, would like to offer her deepest sympathy to Stafford’s family.  My mom is 88yrs old and he had been on her mind lately.  I told her I would Google him and sadly found his obituary.  My grandmother (Anna) and Stafford’s mom (Lil) were sisters.  Stafford was raised  in the Detroit area (I think) and we were Chicagoans.  My mom lived with Aunt May (one of Lil and Anna’s sisters) in Berwyn, Illinois until my mom married and had me late in life.  Thereafter, Aunt May lived with her sister (Stafford’s mom) in Panama City FL.  Aunt May and Lil kept the family connected with letters, calls, and visits until they both passed.  I know my Aunt Val and Uncle Jack (Mikulecky) visited Panama City very frequently and also kept the family connected with the latest news until unfortunately Uncle Jack passed away.  My mom and I have been blessed in life as far as family goes and we hope your families are close.  We are living in Texas currently.  I am an older mom myself with two young daughters.  I stay at home and my husband is a physician.  We send our love and comfort across the miles.  Clare (Wojcik) Edmister 

Stafford and I met in the late seventies at the Hollywood Canteen a bar I co-owned with Jimmy Gammon. It was around the corner from the MET theatre on Melrose that we could access from inside the building making it very easy to go from one to the other. Stafford got cast in a play there and I had been involved with the Theatre for a few years already.  He was very jovial and liked his spirits so it wasn't long until we became a team.  We would spend half of our time at the Theatre and half on bar stools.  Cafe Brassiere on Sunset was our afternoon hangout and the Rain Check at night. If we weren't doing a play at the MET we would go into town anyway and help build sets and mingle with whomever it was that was involved with that particular play.  
Stafford was doing a lot of commercials in those days and  I must say I was jealous. But he had the look they were looking for, and THAT INCREDIBLE SMILE ........I was always cast the bad guy and bad guys don't get cast in commercials.
Stafford was inspirational to my career and especially doing Orpheus Descending at the MET ........he convinced me that it was a play I must do and that HE was going to direct..........going into rehearsals he got called to Florida for some reason he never explained and Jack Starrett took over the directors role. He did make it back for opening and shared in the success of the production.
Many years passed and we had become like brothers. I also had become close with his family in those years and was there for him when he lost his lovely bride.  Until just a year or so ago I could still manage to get him to go in to the El Coyote a couple times a week. He had quit drinking several years before but would still like to go in and shoot the breeze with our Thespian friends there.  
We had several discussions re not morn each other upon our demise so please forgive me not being at the memorial...........I instead choose to keep that incredible smile of his on my mind when I think of him. GOD BLESS

Here I am.....Stafford Morgan's commercial agent for close to 30 years !    Always fun and pleasure to work with, such a fine actor, a great look and so believable.  We did a bunch of jobs and then I'd wait for the El Coyote treats he & Ron Tron would bring to the office.  He would take off for Florida and come on back.  Always talked about his family and his show biz antics.
A super guy and I've missed him for the past few years.  Will just continue missing him.
Lovely memories, time to rest in peace my friend (more than a client)
Leanna

Mr. Pots 'n' Pans... Stafford Morgan... I met Stafford in 1969 and we became friends almost immediately. There was no better salesman on the planet...What he sold mostly was Life and Laughter for many years... I have great memories of working several movies with him, on stage and around Hollywood, Wisconsin and elsewhere... Wherever he was there was a palpable energy in the air even when he wasn't in sight... I'll dearly miss him... All my best to his family...

Stafford was a dear and heartfelt friend for over 50 years! We met at The Met Theatre and remained friends throughout the years. He was a joy to me, full of laughter, life, and adventure; always filled with a bit of miscievious enthusiasm, love and support. Some people come into our lives and stay forever in our hearts. That for sure is Stafford Mergenthal.
Love you always dear friend ~
Belinda Balaski

Stafford meant the world to me, and we had ourselves some fun!

Only met him in his later years, but would share a once/week cocktail while he still drank...then a once/week "B.S." session thereafter - but don't mistake, there was plenty of B.S. before he gave up the hard stuff, too.

We would talk about the industry in years past and what I was doing at the moment. He talked about work, acting, life...and women. His stories made my greatest adventures seem tame, and I dreamed of going back in time a couple decades to be his wing man, what a ride it would have been.

As his time began to fade, he still had specific joys and memories that remained strong, and his versions of these stories inspired me to write, and write some more.

I send love and peace to his family and all those blessed enough to have spent time with him, especially our mutual pal, Ronnie. What a great team they made. 

I'll miss you, pal - cause a little trouble up there for all of us. ;)

(The accompanying picture was taken during one of those beloved "B.S. sessions," and featured Stafford along with Academy Award-Winning effects guru, Joe Viskocil)

OBITUARY

Stafford Mergenthal

January 26, 1935 – September 24, 2018

Gates, Kingsley & Gates Praiswater Mortuary

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