Elaine F. Stemmle

Elaine was born in Queens, NY, the daughter of Albert and Hazel (Stanton) Stemmle. The family moved to Jersey City when Elaine was 3.

She went to public grammar school and graduated as valedictorian fromPS 17. She was awarded a scholarship to St. Dominic Academy and was president of the Forensic League and the bowling club. With her sister, Janet, as her partner, they won the debate trophy at Georgian Court University. She also appeared twice on a tv show called Junior Town Meeting and won first place. At graduation, she was awarded medals for debate, forensics and four years perfect attendance.

She matriculated at Jersey City State College (University). While at the college she served as President of the National Honorary Collegiate Journalism Fraternity, was Co-Editor of the Yearbook, Women's Sports Editor of the school newspaper and Representative to the Student Council. Upon graduation she received the award as Outstanding Woman athlete.

Elaine began her professional career teaching Educable Retarded students in Hillside, NJ. She taught there for 10 years altogether, including teach 6th grade for one year and 7th grade English for two years. She was featured in a brochure published by the US Information Service for innovative use of methods using teaching machines with the handicapped. She encouraged her 6th grade students to publish a school newspaper as an enrichment activity. The first issue of " The Swinging Press " received plaudits from staff and students alike. Their paper covered school news, sports, fashion, horoscope and mazes.

Miss Stemmle attended Rutgers University, Kean College (University) and Jersey City State College (University) evenings and summers receiving het MA in Special Education in June 1964.

Elaine started the Administrative part of her career in 1971 as Executive Director of the Ocean County Unit for Retarded Citizens. She was responsible for fund and supervising programs for the handicapped from pre-school to young adulthood. She initiated the Early Intervention Program for infants from Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

In 1974, Miss Stemmle was named Supervisor of Child Study for the State Department of Education, working with Morris County Superintendent of Schools. She was responsible for supervising the Special Education programs in 42 school districts to ensure compliance with State and Federal laws.

Miss Stemmle became the Director of Special Needs at the Union County Vocational School in 1979. She was responsible for developing vocational programs for students from sending districts. She developed brochures to introduce the program to those districts. Related aspects of the position included budget preparation, and insuring compliance with statutes and serving as the coordinator of Title 1 and Section 504 regulations.

After 2 years, she left that position to become the Supervisor of Education and Vocational Programs at the North Jersey Development Center in Totowa. She supervised all educational, vocational and recreational programs at the residential program for profoundly retarded clients.

Elaine took a brief hiatus from the work world to pursue certification as a paralegal at the Institute for Paralegal Studies. She completed that course with honors, in July 1984.

For one year, Miss Stemmle was the Supervisor of Handicapped programs at the Union County Department of Recreation. Her duties included writing grant proposals and developing programs for the handicapped residents of Union County. The Department was presented with in 1985 Special Recreation Award for "Outstanding Achievement for the Physically and Mentally Handicapped" from the National Sports Foundation.

Miss Stemmle left Union County in 1985 to become the Supervisor of the Dr. Jacob Lewis Education Center for Freehold Regional High School District. The Center was a non-traditional setting for emotionally Disturbed students who were unsuccessful in the traditional school setting.

Elaine remained at JL until the program was closed for economic reasons in 1997. She was transferred to Colts Neck High School to become the Supervisor of the English, Social Studies and Handicapped programs. She served in that position until she retired on January 1, 2000 ending 39 years as an educator.

After retirement, Elaine went back to her roots, teaching. She taught a course in Community Resources for the Handicapped to graduate students at Georgian Court University for two years.

She moved to Holiday City South in Toms River in January 1999. During the years since retiring, Elaine served as captain of a shuffleboard team and of a bocci team. She also served as chairperson for a review of the developments BY-Laws. Elaine spent 17 years as a snowbird in Panama City Beach, Florida. She has enjoyed her hobby of painting and has gifted away more than 30 paintings to family and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents Albert and Hazel (nee Stanton) in 1975, brother Robert in 1999 and sister Janet in 2018. Elaine is survived by her sister Joan Sorrentino, living in Toms River and a brother William and sister in law Phyllis Stemmle, living in Forked River. She also has a number of nieces and nephews living in New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Florida.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 3-7 pm at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 26 Mule Rd., Toms River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 28, 2025 10 am at the St, Maximilian Kolbe RC Church, Toms River. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 718-987-1931 or by visiting www.t2t.org.