Robert Stoll

STOLL Robert Stoll, 75, of Ponte Vedra Beach passed away on July 13, 2006 due to complications related to a rare autoimmune pulmonary disease. He was born in Michigan to Swiss citizens who returned to Switzerland when he was 2 years old. The family returned to live in the US permanently 8 years later. Bob graduated from Andover Academy and Yale University. He had earned a ROTC commission at Yale and 2 weeks after graduation he was on active duty in the Army as an artillery officer. He served with the 45th Infantry Division as an artillery forward observer in Korea. He received a battlefield promotion and a Bronze Star after a particularly nasty battle on Sandbag Castle on the eastern front. After the war he worked for Sikorsky Aircraft, making helicopter rotorheads, while contemplating his career. He decided on dentistry and graduated with academic honors from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He returned to active duty in the Army and subsequently earned Masters Degrees from Baylor University and from the University of Missouri and became an orthodontist. Bob retired from the Army after completing his last tour in Germany and then immediately went to work for a German orthodontist in northern Bavaria. He and his wife Rea enjoyed eight great years there and came to Florida only because their bodies needed more sunshine. Bob was very active in environmental organizations, serving two terms as a Director of the Florida Audubon Society and many years with the St. Johns County Audubon Society. He was a founding member of the Stewards of the St. Johns River. He organized what has now become an annual count of Peregrine Falcons migrating through Ponte Vedra in the fall. He also spent countless hours on 4 miles of beach in Ponte Vedra as a Principal Sea Turtle Permit holder for the State of Florida. Bob enjoyed woodcarving and was a founding member of the Northeast Florida Woodcarver's Guild. For 10 years he worked part time with the Duval County Health Department on one of their mobile dental vans, providing preventive dental care to elementary school kids throughout Duval County. Dr. Stoll joined the Mayport Navy League eight years ago and volunteered to serve as the Executive Treasurer of the entire organization. He held this position until January of this year, when he became too ill to serve. His work was exemplary and earned him the Navy League of the United States Scroll of Honor, one of the two most prodigious awards bestowed by the National Navy League each year. Family members include his loving wife of 32 years, Rea and a sister living in Connecticut. They had no children. Services will be held in the Jacksonville VA Cemetery and Mausoleum when it is finished. He has asked that in lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to the Nature Conservancy of Florida, 222 South Westmonte Dr., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. Services under the direction and care of Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com