Stanley Jarrett

Stanley “Stan the Man” Jarrett, 95, of Ramona, passed away peacefully, Monday, December 7, 2020 at Scripps Memorial Hospital from Covid pneumonia.  He was predeceased by his parents Eleanora (Dembak) and Stanislas Jaskiewicz, his wife Dorothy (Dottie), brothers and sister-in-law’s, Ted and Anne Jaskiewicz, William and Mary Jaskiewicz, Raymond and Ada Jaskiewicz, a sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Nial  Meadows, and a brother, Bogdan (John) Jaskiewicz.  He is survived by his son, Richard, and daughter-in-law, Patricia, and many nieces and nephews.

As a boy, his family lived in an apartment by the railroad tracks, where he would pick up coal that fell from the coal cars in Binghamton, New York.  Later on, during the summers, the family would join other families where they would pick peas for local farmers in upstate New York.  He also worked in a bowling alley setting up the pins and at a golf course as a caddy.

During the first grade, he got very sick and he had to repeat the grade.  Therefore, he completed the 11th grade from Johnson City High School and enlisted in the Army Air Corp, just before he turned 18, July 13, 1943.  As a sacrifice for her son to keep him safe during the war, his mother gave up the glass of wine she enjoyed with the Sunday afternoon supper.  He trained to be a radio operator on B-29s preparing for the air invasion of Japan – a mission he never had to fly.  After the war he guarded German and Italian Prisoners of war until his discharge.

After the war, he went to Chicago to learn Mechanical Tool and Die design.  While in Chicago, he roomed with his brothers Ted and Bill as they were also learning their technical trades.  Being of a gregarious nature, he learned ballroom dancing and would go to the ballrooms in Chicago.  After his degree, he worked in Detroit and Saginaw, to name a few places.

In 1953 he came to California and settled in the Los Angeles area.  One night, while going to the Hollywood Paladium, he saw the most beautiful woman in the room, Dorothy (Dottie) Hirsch, and asked her to dance.  Upon the approval her brother, Mitchell, and blessing from her father, Adolph, they were married in 1954.

In 1958 he became a father to his only child, a son, Richard.  While he was passing out cigars at work, the boss was handing out pink slips.  He was always a good provider, taking care of his family through thick and thin.  He enjoyed fishing and Richard has many fond memories of ocean fishing trips with his dad – a gift that Richard deeply appreciates and an activity he enjoys to this day.

In 1974, the family moved to San Diego and later settled in Oceanside where Dottie passed away in 2003.  He and Dottie enjoyed playing cards, dancing, and going on cruises together.  After Dottie died, dad continued going to the Senior Centers and Elks Clubs to go dancing.  He stopped dancing when he was about 90 as his Parkinson’s Disease affected his balance.  However, if he found a willing lady, he would have an impromptu dance in a restaurant, in the doctor’s office, or even in his wheelchair at a nursing home a few weeks before he passed. 

A core element of his life was his faith in Jesus as a Roman Catholic.  This faith influenced Dottie to convert to Catholicism in 1973 and his son to enter the San Diego diocesan seminary.  On Christmas Eve, the traditional Polish meal, a Wigilia was served.  This meal has no meat and the Oplatki, a thin wafer made from bread and water, imprinted with a Christmas scene, was shared among those present with a wish for peace, health, and happiness.  After Dottie passed, he became an Eucharistic Minister to the sick and homebound for many years at his parish, St Francis of Assisi, in nearby Vista.

He had a good sense of humor.  A current co-worker of Richard, who worked with Stanley in 1987, told Richard that he remembers Stanley’s good sense of humor.  He had a welcoming spirit to those he met and would say “Yak sie masz?” Polish, for “how are you?”  Most recently, a doctor told us, “He is a character”, and “he is my ‘new’ favorite”.  He was a favorite of many people with his warm smile, understanding nature, gentle manner to dealing with life’s ups and downs, and playful wit.  Now, freed from the limitations of his body, may he be forever dancing with Dottie, “cha, cha, cha”.

Private funeral services will be held at Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery in Oceanside, where Dottie is resting.

Bonham Bros & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service is assisting the family.

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