Stanley J. Gembala

Loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Stanley "Stan" Joseph Gembala passed away peacefully on February 8, 2026, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT following a brief illness. He resided in Manchester, CT for more than 60 years before moving recently to Simsbury, CT.

Born in Tarnów, Poland on July 24, 1935, Stan was the son of the late John and Ewa Gembala. His early years were shaped by the hardships of World War II, after which he immigrated to the United States in 1948 with his family. Settling in New Bedford, MA, he embraced his new country with determination and resilience. Intelligent, hardworking, and conscientious, he quickly became fluent in English-giving him a hard-earned and lifelong sense of pride in having mastered its convoluted grammar-and graduated second in his large high-school class. He was active in a number of clubs, including Army ROTC, in which he held leadership roles; he enthusiastically attended nearly all of his high school reunions. His academic excellence and drive then led him to attend Brown University in Providence, RI on an academic scholarship, where he studied Russian language and literature, took pre-med classes, and enjoyed college life as a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

After graduation in 1960, Stan met the love of his life, Jeannette "Jan" Marguerite Benoit, on the beach in New Bedford. They were married in 1963 and would have celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary later this month. The love story of "Stan and Jan" carried them through decades of adventure and devotion, including travel in Europe and Cold War-era Soviet Union, starting a business, and raising four children.

Despite putting long hours and many decades into successfully growing S.J. Gembala Customs Brokers and maintaining a beautiful home and yard, Stan always made time for having fun with his loved ones. Cherished memories of him include swimming in the backyard pool; ice skating on Union Pond; sailing on Bolton Lake; going to the beach; eating ice cream at Shady Glen; playing tennis, soccer, and catch with his children; enjoying the outdoors; dancing the polka and the waltz at weddings; engaging in harmless pranks; and making dad jokes before that was a thing. Family trips and visits to see his children took him throughout New England and to Arizona, Florida, the District of Columbia, Mississippi, Texas, Canada, and the Caribbean. On road trips he could often be found driving just slightly over the speed limit in one of the many Saabs he had (and imported) over the years. Stan rarely missed a Gembala family reunion, at which he unfailingly enjoyed the abundant and delicious Polish cooking.

Stan also had a lifelong affection for animals-and they for him-and lovingly cared for many pets over the years, including cat Jenny, golden retrievers Goldie and Mika, rabbit Twister, and a mini menagerie of small mammals, turtles, and fish, as well as an assortment of backyard critters.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents and by his sisters and their husbands Josephine (Joe) Dubiel of Sterling Heights, MI; Teresa (Bruno) Baszak of New Bedford; and Jane (George)

O'Brien of Manchester. He is survived by his loving wife, Jeannette "Jan," of Simsbury; by his children, Tania (Walter III) Sechriest of Washington, DC; John "Tad" Gembala of Simsbury; James "Jamie" (Denise) Gembala of Pembroke Pines, FL; and Amy (Jarrod) Gibbons of Newburyport, MA; by his siblings Mary (Mal) Holland and Etta (John, deceased) Scavotto, all of Vernon, CT; and Ray (Elaine) Gembala of West Hartford, CT; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was also a highly devoted "Grampie" to three grandchildren: Walter "Winn" Sechriest IV; Robin Sechriest; and Greta Gibbons.

Stan's legacy is defined by his inspirational commitment to his wife and family, never-ending service to others, active kindness, and selfless generosity. From Tarnów to a life richly lived in America, his journey was one of courage, faith, and love, and he will continue to give all of us who miss him many reasons to smile through our tears.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 21, at 11 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 736 East Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT.

Following the Mass, the family invites you to a reception from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. at the Manchester Country Club in the Woodbridge Room, 305 South Main Street, Manchester, CT. The Country Club is located approximately four miles from the church. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.