Stanley M. Jurga

Stanley M. Jurga, Sr., 73, of Shirley, passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at his home surrounded by his wife and children.

Stan was born in Leominster, April 27, 1952, the son of the late Stanley P. and Mildred L. (Maziekas) Jurga and was a lifelong Shirley resident.

He was a 1970 graduate of Ayer High School and continued his education at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell, where he majored in Business Management.

Stan began his career in 1972 as Assistant Plant Manager at the George Frost Company, the parent company of All-Star Sporting Goods, a brand founded in 1960. In 1988, Stan and his father-in-law, David Holden, Sr., acquired the All-Star division and carried the brand forward under their ownership. A true legend in the sporting goods industry, with many "firsts" such as the one-piece catcher's helmet, Stan was inducted into the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) Hall of Fame in 2018. He deeply loved his company and took immense pride in the people who made it special - the staff, sales representatives, customers, factory partners, and lifelong friends throughout the industry.

Stan had many passions. The most important was his love of skiing where he met his wife, Carol, on the slopes of Shirley's Benjamin Hill. Stan was an avid woodworker – building his own post & beam barn (not a single nail!) where he would then create custom furniture. In most recent years, he specialized in building handmade (no power tools) Windsor Chairs with wood he felled from his own property. Stan was a landscape craftsman – building winding stone walls and beautiful fish ponds. He spent much of his time enjoying his family at Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, Maine. During the summers, when not in Maine, he could be found playing 18 holes at Oak Hill Country Club.

He leaves his wife of fifty one years, Carol (Holden) Jurga; he leaves three children, Stanley Jurga, Jr. and his wife, Megan of Arlington; Sara Tortorici and her husband, Paul of Carlisle; Brad Jurga and his wife, Carly of Leominster; two sisters, Deborah Seeley and her husband, Ron, Victoria Landry all of Shirley; four grandchildren, Madelyn Jurga, Emily Jurga, Finn Tortorici and Sawyer Tortorici; two grand-pups, Rufio & Cora.

He was the brother of the late Ruth Sebastian of New Hampshire and the brother-in-law of the late Edmond Landry of Shirley.

Stan's family will receive relatives and friends at calling hours Thursday, March 5th, 4:00 – 7:00PM at the Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road (Rte 2A) Ayer.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, March 6th, 11:00AM at St. Anthony's Church, 14 Phoenix Street, Shirley.

Spring interment will be in Center Cemetery, Shirley.