Stanley Z. Nathanson

Nathanson, Stanley, 92 of Boynton Beach FL and Westfield, NJ passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Born on January 13, 1930 in Brooklyn NY. Also known as “Stan” or “Stosh”, he was the first of three siblings. Stan grew up in Brooklyn, NY and attended Tilden High School and the City College of New York.

After graduating with a degree in Business and Accounting, Stan was stationed in the Army in Casablanca. Stan was also a stand-up comedian in the Army and loved to entertain other comrades.

In 1955, Stan met Eileen (nee Fine) and they were married in New York City on June 23, 1957. After living in Roselle, NJ for two years, they moved to Westfield where they raised their three children.

Stan spent most of his career as the co-owner of the Swan and Benedict Motels in Linden with his brother-in-law, Larry Fine of Springfield, NJ and then with his son, David.

Stan was a community man who was very involved in Westfield, NJ’s little league and as a congregant of Temple Emanu-El where he served in the Men’s Club and on the Ritual Committee for many years.

Known as “New Jersey’s Tevye” after playing that role in Fiddler on the Roof in several little theatre groups, Stan was a member of The Westfield Community Players, the Scotch Plains Players, The Cranford Little Theater, The Martinsville Players, The Foothills Playhouse.

Stan also performed and starred as “Pseudolus” in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, “Sancho” in Zorba the Greek, “Barney Cashman” in The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, “Ben Franklin” in 1776, “Willy Clark” in The Sunshine Boys, and other supporting roles in The Front Page, The Goodbye People, Enter Laughing, Plaza Suite, just to name a few.

Stan and his wife Eileen loved to travel throughout the United States, Israel, Europe, Canada and Asia. He was an avid coin and stamp collector and loved taking photos of his travels with his wife and his children over the years.

He loved to attend the soccer and baseball games of his five grandchildren and always found the best seat on the field at the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School’s Varsity soccer games.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rea and Nat Nathanson and his sister Joan Iris Breitman.

Stan is survived by his wife, Eileen, three children Lori (Paul Widman), Randi (Andy) Berger and David (Amy) Nathanson, five grandchildren Josh and Ryan Widman, Jared Berger and Jack and Jordy Nathanson, and his brother Robert Nathanson and nieces and nephews.

Stan was always the life of the party and will be missed by all that knew him.