William "Fritz" Stansell

My Dad and Mr. Stansell have been friends and coworkers since before I was in diapers. They cooperated very well together and there is great respect between them. Terry and Tom have been friends since we were teeny tykes. I have valued all of the Stansells highly all of my life. I was a camper at BLFAC 3 times. Once staying with the Stansells in the Chateau. My condolences and best wishes to the family.

It´s not easy to be a change maker. It takes courage, intelligence, wit, and hard work. Fritz had all of these traits and infused them into us, his students, and as a result changed many of our lives. I can say that he changed mine profoundly. But he not only created in his students the desire for goodness and excellence, he created the same in nothing less than the entire state of Michigan when his vision for it provided the Midwest the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp-a wonderful place for kids...

Fritz Stansell created the first "orchestra" at North Muskegon Schools when I was in 4th grade. They gave us all instruments to use and lessons on how to play. I was taught how to play the violin and then the viola. That experience and those lessons kept me involved with music my whole life. Now my children are both professional musicians and using their skills to help others. I am only one example of the thousands of people that Fritz and his family have influenced in a powerful and...

Extending heartfelt sympathy to Tom, Terry, Mrs Gretchen Stansell and families on the loss of your Father and husband. What a legacy he and your family have left. After being a camper at BLFAC for 2 consecutive summers, I was fortunate to tour Europe with Tom and Terry as a member of the International Wind Ensemble June 1972. Gretchen was the program director at that time and it was a life-changing experience. My family was able to host 2 of the families I had stayed with the following...

My condolences to all who grieve. As a member of the North Muskegon band all the 6 years he was with us I must say every last one of us appreciated the efforts and talent he poured into our music making. He was a musical giant to us. There was never a dull rehearsal, never dull music. He had a profound effect on most of us and we loved our top ratings at festival too. That was all over a half century ago and he is still very much with us. He probably did more for young musicians in...

Fritz Stansell was my band director at North Muskegon Schools. He started me on clarinet with private lessons he taught me on Saturday mornings. He taught me well and encouraged me to attend the Interlochen All State program, which I did for 4 summers. He was an dedicated and demanding band director and he had award winning bands at N. M. It was due to his excellent start for my clarinet playing and his instilling a love of music in me that I chose to pursue Clarinet Performance degrees at...

Fritz was my first band director at NM high school. He was so beloved! We cried when he left to pursue his vision of a music camp. Lucky me that he gave me a full scholarship the first year the camp was open and I believe it helped cement my life in music. In later years, I taught at Blue Lake while my children attended camp. Fritz and Gretchen together built a beautiful music camp program, radio station, and for several years, community school for the arts, where I also taught. Bless you...

First, my condolences to the Stansell family. I know that the void is profound. I can´t find words that seem meaningful but I want to let it be known that Fritz (Mr. Stansell) was and still is a significant influence in my life. By his steady example I came to understand the concept of excellence and the tenet that the journey is the destination. Fritz Stansell was my Mr. Chips. North Muskegon "Rebels of '65"

Much love and admiration for Fritz and his amazing gifts to all of humanity. As a classmate of Tom´s at Whitehall High School, I treasured my time at Blue Lake Fine Arts camp playing piano. It was an amazing experience and memory. To the Stansell family, know that my prayers are yours as you celebrate your father´s life. Be well.