Richard Lewis Stauff died suddenly but peacefully at home after a debilitating illness, on December 7, 2025. Rich lived in Staten Island, New York, for his first 77 years, then relocated to Niles, Illinois, in 2023 with his loving wife Ruth, to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren in Chicago.
A Tottenville High School graduate and veteran of the U.S. Army, Rich had a long career in the oil transport and storage industry, retiring from Kinder Morgan (formerly Port Mobil terminal) in 2013. Rich also had several robust side careers over the decades. In high school, Rich began working for the Tottenville pharmacy founded by his grandfather, and continued to work at the pharmacy into the 1980s as the bookkeeper and assistant manager. From the 1980s onward, Rich provided electrical, plumbing, and general home repair services for clients throughout Staten Island and New Jersey, and he was the caretaker for several properties on Staten Island.
Rich was a character. He easily made conversation with everyone who crossed his path, from store clerks to neighbors to longtime friends and family. Rich told stories of his Army days and the Craig Avenue Boys Club as though they happened yesterday. He laughed easily and enjoyed simple pleasures like strawberry shakes and NCIS marathons.
Rich practiced random acts of kindness before that term existed. Rich once brought home a young, stranded Army private he met at the A&P, and Rich spent years looking after an elderly family friend courtesy of yet another serendipitous trip to the A&P. In his younger years, Rich was the guy stopping to change your tire on the highway, even if it made him late to work or dinner. In his older years, Rich was the guy sneaking off to pay for the fancy dinner you thought you were treating him to. Rich tipped big, and in cash, to make sure servers were taken care of. Rich would have spent the last weeks of his life quietly handing out $100 bills in Jewel, had he known the end was near.
Throughout his life, Rich had three superpowers. First, Rich could fix anything. Second, Rich was organized. From the finances to packing up a dorm room, Rich’s meticulousness was unparalleled. Third, Rich was endlessly funny. Rich had sayings and endearing nicknames and songs and even sound effects for every person in his life and most situations he encountered. Rich-isms and Pop-Pop-isms will live on through people who will be missing Rich with their whole hearts, for the rest of their lives.
Rich was devoted to Ruth, his high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, and was so grateful for the life they built together. In retirement, he and Ruth enjoyed dining out, going to movies, weekend trips to Cape May or Virginia Beach, and, until he and Ruth moved to Illinois, travelling frequently to Chicago. Retirement Rich also enjoyed not having to-do lists. He was thrilled to let others cut the grass, renovate the bathroom, and fix broken household items.
Rich was proud of his daughters, Lisa and Michele, especially for their spirited independence and strong work ethic. Rich’s grandchildren Clarke, Jack, Riley, and Grady, and honorary granddaughter Meaghan, were endless sources of joy. Rich was tickled pink to see his daughters, and then grandchildren, become adults who like Rich had the gift of gab, knew time was money, had tremendous entrepreneurial spirits, and could hold their own no matter what the world threw at them.
Rich loved his cats and his grandcats, taking photos and endlessly talking to (and about) Rusty, Frankie, Clinker, Bruce and Lily.
Rich was preceded in death by his father Carroll C. Stauff, MD; mother Maybelle Androvette Hollowell and stepfather Ralph Hollowell; and brother Carroll Stauff.
Rich is survived by his wife, Ruth (nee Dall); daughters Lisa (Ken) and Michele; grandchildren Clarke, Jack (Daniela), Riley, and Grady; siblings Marilyn Bedell, Frederick Allison Stauff (Elizabeth), Barbara Mester, and Christine Sterner (Robert).
Private services were held at Cooney Funeral Home in Park Ridge, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Rich by clearing the snow from your grill, barbecuing a marinaded London Broil, and washing it down with a frosty Miller Lite, and by making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A Tottenville High School graduate and veteran of the U.S. Army, Rich had a long career in the oil transport and storage industry, retiring from Kinder Morgan (formerly Port Mobil terminal) in 2013. Rich also had several robust side careers over the decades. In high school, Rich began working for the Tottenville pharmacy founded by his grandfather, and continued to work at the pharmacy into the 1980s as the bookkeeper and assistant manager. From the 1980s onward, Rich provided electrical, plumbing, and general home repair services for clients throughout Staten Island and New Jersey, and he was the caretaker for several properties on Staten Island.
Rich was a character. He easily made conversation with everyone who crossed his path, from store clerks to neighbors to longtime friends and family. Rich told stories of his Army days and the Craig Avenue Boys Club as though they happened yesterday. He laughed easily and enjoyed simple pleasures like strawberry shakes and NCIS marathons.
Rich practiced random acts of kindness before that term existed. Rich once brought home a young, stranded Army private he met at the A&P, and Rich spent years looking after an elderly family friend courtesy of yet another serendipitous trip to the A&P. In his younger years, Rich was the guy stopping to change your tire on the highway, even if it made him late to work or dinner. In his older years, Rich was the guy sneaking off to pay for the fancy dinner you thought you were treating him to. Rich tipped big, and in cash, to make sure servers were taken care of. Rich would have spent the last weeks of his life quietly handing out $100 bills in Jewel, had he known the end was near.
Throughout his life, Rich had three superpowers. First, Rich could fix anything. Second, Rich was organized. From the finances to packing up a dorm room, Rich’s meticulousness was unparalleled. Third, Rich was endlessly funny. Rich had sayings and endearing nicknames and songs and even sound effects for every person in his life and most situations he encountered. Rich-isms and Pop-Pop-isms will live on through people who will be missing Rich with their whole hearts, for the rest of their lives.
Rich was devoted to Ruth, his high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, and was so grateful for the life they built together. In retirement, he and Ruth enjoyed dining out, going to movies, weekend trips to Cape May or Virginia Beach, and, until he and Ruth moved to Illinois, travelling frequently to Chicago. Retirement Rich also enjoyed not having to-do lists. He was thrilled to let others cut the grass, renovate the bathroom, and fix broken household items.
Rich was proud of his daughters, Lisa and Michele, especially for their spirited independence and strong work ethic. Rich’s grandchildren Clarke, Jack, Riley, and Grady, and honorary granddaughter Meaghan, were endless sources of joy. Rich was tickled pink to see his daughters, and then grandchildren, become adults who like Rich had the gift of gab, knew time was money, had tremendous entrepreneurial spirits, and could hold their own no matter what the world threw at them.
Rich loved his cats and his grandcats, taking photos and endlessly talking to (and about) Rusty, Frankie, Clinker, Bruce and Lily.
Rich was preceded in death by his father Carroll C. Stauff, MD; mother Maybelle Androvette Hollowell and stepfather Ralph Hollowell; and brother Carroll Stauff.
Rich is survived by his wife, Ruth (nee Dall); daughters Lisa (Ken) and Michele; grandchildren Clarke, Jack (Daniela), Riley, and Grady; siblings Marilyn Bedell, Frederick Allison Stauff (Elizabeth), Barbara Mester, and Christine Sterner (Robert).
Private services were held at Cooney Funeral Home in Park Ridge, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Rich by clearing the snow from your grill, barbecuing a marinaded London Broil, and washing it down with a frosty Miller Lite, and by making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Lewis Stauff, please visit our flower store.
Richard Lewis Stauff's Guestbook
Visits: 20
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors