Stanley Popiel

Stonington - Stanley Popiel, humanitarian and founder of Mystic Color Lab, passed away peacefully Oct. 3, 2008, at his home in Stonington Borough, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was 93.

Stanley and his wife, Ingrid Feddersen, expanded the ABC Film Co. into the national photofinisher, Mystic Color Lab, which employed over 500 people at the time it was sold in 1985. He was an inventor and held a number of U.S. patents. His intellectual curiosity was insatiable.

He was born to Polish immigrant parents in Johnston, R.I., in 1915. He loved telling colorful stories of his childhood during the Great Depression. Favorites among them were the many lessons he learned working at Hymie Gold's junkyard. There, among the discarded books, he discovered his love for reading. The Horatio Alger stories became his favorite and his guideline to live by in his younger years.

His career in photography started at the Woonsocket Call newspaper as a photographer, but was interrupted by World War II when Stanley became an instructor in the U.S. Signal Corps. He resumed his post at the Call until 1951. Stanley was a charter member of the National Press Photographers Association

Stanley built and owned many boats and crossed the Atlantic with his beloved yacht "Mysticol." Friends and family accompanied him on many trips along the eastern United States and the Caribbean. It was during these travels that he visited Haiti and became concerned with the plight of the Haitian people. The Haitian Health Foundation in Norwich invited him to be on the board of directors, and he loved giving his support to their work in Jeremy, Haiti. The University of Connecticut (UCONN) honored him with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree for his humanitarian involvement.

He also was interested in supporting the local community in many ways. He was on the board of directors of the New England Savings Bank, served on the Connecticut Development Authority, appointed by both a Republican and Democratic governor. He was a member of the Advisory Council at Uncas on Thames Hospital. He served on the board of directors of the Community Chorus of Westerly where he established the endowment fund. He also served as a member of the board of the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center.

Sharing his knowledge in lectures at UCONN and as visiting professor at Eastern Connecticut State University was pure pleasure to him. He served Lawrence & Memorial Hospital as a corporator. Stanley and his wife funded several scholarships at the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut for local students.

Love for fishing and boating brought him to Stonington, and he became friends with many of the Stonington fishermen and their families. The survival of the fleet and the hardworking people was always on his mind. He was the only non-professional fisherman who was given membership into the Southern New England Fishermen and Lobstermen's Association at the time. The Stonington fishermen erected a monument honoring him for his many years of dedication and generosity.

Stanley was a humble man with so many friends. He touched all our hearts and left a legacy of great memories for us all to cherish. He will be dearly missed.

Stanley is survived by his devoted wife, Ingrid Feddersen; daughters, Pamela Kelly, Patricia Popiel, and Cynthia Popiel; his sons-in-law, Charles Kelly, Joseph Kaufman, and Daniel Patrick; grandsons, Chip Kelly, Christian Kelly, and Andrew Kaufman; five great-grandchildren; his brother, Edward Zarski and his wife, Kathy.

His brothers, Frank Popiel and Joe Zarski, predeceased him.

The special care at the Westerly Adult Day Services added comfort to his last years. His loving friends, Pam, Laura, and Lindsay added sparkle to his life.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, at the George Kent Concert Hall, 119 High St., Westerly RI.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Westerly Adult Day Services, 65 Wells St., Westerly RI 02891 or The Haitian Health Foundation, 97 Sherman St., Norwich CT 06360. To quote Stanley, "You are good."