Stanley Semel Rutner

1933 - 2021

Stanley Semel Rutner September 23, 1933 - May 25, 2021 Stan Rutner passed away peacefully of natural causes on May 25, 2021 at Oakmont of Varenna in Santa Rosa with his wife of 65 years by his side. During his three months on hospice care, his daughters and grandchildren were an ever-present support. Ten years prior to Stan's passing, his oncologist had given him only weeks to live following treatment for lung cancer with metastasis to his brain, but she didn't know she was dealing with "Miracle Man," as he came to be known. He was born in San Rafael and raised in San Anselmo. His favorite pastime from a very early age was golf and he played a good game well into his seventies. He was a graduate of Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley and Stanford University and went on to get his DDS from Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry. In 1954, while working a summer job at Sunnyside Lodge in Lake Tahoe, the girl who would become his wife came into the lodge with her girlfriend for a cup of coffee and the rest is history. They were married two years later and, over their long and happy marriage they raised three beautiful daughters, oversaw the building of their dream home in Novato, enjoyed tennis, waterskiing, windsurfing and scuba diving together, and traveled the world. Sadly, they lost their youngest daughter, Corinne, to pancreatic cancer in 2017. Stan was not only a highly respected family dentist in Terra Linda (San Rafael) for over forty years, but was also known for his remodeling and re-selling of houseboats in Sausalito. He continues to provide for his family through the self-storage facility he purchased in Ukiah nearly twenty years ago, Ukiah Self Storage. It remains a thriving business under the capable management of his daughter, Terry, with back-up support from his firstborn, Debra. Stan is survived by his adoring wife, Barbara; their two daughters, Debra Butterfield (Albert) and Terry Lasater; seven wonderful grandchildren: Kate Nakagawa (Ken), Ian Lasater (Jeni), Sean Lasater, Morgan Lasater, Isa Afanasieff, Christina Afanasieff and Andrei Afanasieff (Beth); and five adorable great-grandchildren. Even though he was dealing with declining mobility and speech difficulties over the past two years or so, Stan always had a smile on his face, a sparkle in his eye, a positive attitude and a great sense of humor. The family will be eternally grateful to the Health Services staff at Varenna and to nurse Laurie Jones, Chaplain Constance Blood, Ivan Rodriguez and their associates at By the Bay Health (formerly Hospice by the Bay), all of whom took care of Stan as if he were their own. A private service may be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of your choice.