STUMPF, Alvin A. “Buddy”

Alvin A. STUMPF “Buddy” age 91.  Beloved husband of the late Helen Ann (nee Zak).  Dearest father of Dr. Jeanne Marie Stumpf, Judith Hering (Larry), Kathleen Dybo (Jan), Geri Rogers (David), Patrice Koerper, Dallan, Deborah Tabor (Tony), James (Sherri), and Beverly “Bunny” Bokan (Greg).  Dear grandfather of 24 and great grandfather of 23.  Loving son of Robert Jacob and Alida (nee Kloth). Loving brother of the late Wolfram, Robert E.,  Carl, Alida “Dolly”, and Albert.  WWII Navy Veteran.

PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH for the Mass of Christian Burial, Thursday, April 14, 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Strongsville.  Interment, Resurrection Cemetery.

VISITATION AT THE ZABOR FUNERAL HOME, 5680 PEARL RD., PARMA (BETWEEN RIDGE AND SNOW) WEDNESDAY, 2-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the “Estate of A. A. Stumpf” to be used for the Centennial Celebration of the West Side Market. To offer online condolences, please visit www.ZaborFH.com

Alvin A., “Buddy”, Stumpf was a brilliant man of many interests with a gift for gab, an unquenchable thirst for all things electronic and high-tech, and a talent for entrepreneurial endeavors. His faith occupied his thoughts and was a rewarding part of his life.

He was a pun-master, a practical joker – especially with his brothers and sister. He loved to read, to research and to connect family members near and far. He was a wonderful Grandpa and great-grandfather, who entertained the youngest with his jokes, magic tricks and riddles – “Do you walk to school or carry your lunch? He was “Uncle Buddy” to his many nieces and nephews and “Bud” to his beautiful and well-loved, late wife Helen.

His Mother’s family (Alida Kloth) was from Stettin, Germany; his father, Robert Jacob Stumpf was born in 1879 in Eberbach, Germany. His parents met and were married in America. A 1922 photo of his Dad at his smoked meat stand at the West Side Market is part of the Cleveland Memory online library.

Al’s career began immediately after his graduation from West Technical High School in 1938, where he specialized in the study of electricity. He felt his studies were an excellent foundation to build upon, and with continuous self-study and a variety of jobs from maintenance electrician to apprentice at a research institution, he qualified as an instructor in the Navy. During his three year naval service (1942-45), he taught Aviation Radar & Radio and obtained his First Class Radio Telephone Engineers License.

His career reached a technical high-point as a Senior Project Designer with Designers for Industry of Cleveland (1951-54). In the late 1950’s Al, always a trail blazer, bought and sold parcels of land on the undeveloped end of Blazey Trail in Strongsville, and built his growing family a large ranch house on a heavily wooded lot – achieving another of his lifelong dreams. During that time he worked for Unitized Electronics Corps as a service provider and distributor for Setchell-Carlson Television Receivers and Studio Television Broadcasting Studio Equipment (1951-65).

In 1965, he opened a job shop, RWS Industries, where he designed and produced prototypes for a variety of equipment ranging from cable systems for the Redstone Missile program NASA Launch devices, and designed and installed closed circuit television for industry, commerce and nuclear reactors. With increased interest, at that time, in electronic training in vocational schools and colleges, he developed training equipment in advanced electronics and television, which was considered the best in the nation. He wrote the related training manuals and traveled to vocational and technical trade shows throughout the country.

Al also enjoyed participating at different times in his life with his older brother Rob’s family business Kitchen Maid Meats. In his 60’s, he bought farmland and again sold parcels with the intent of building a retirement home for he and Helen. During his 70’s and 80’s, Al continued working part-time in the electronics field and pursued related projects. In his mid to late 80’s, he combined his faith and his technical expertise as president of Hail Holy Queen Communications, a not-for-profit corporation, devoted to starting a Catholic radio station in northeast Ohio.

At the age of 90 – hampered but not deterred by his need for fulltime oxygen intake due to congestive heart failure, he moved into a house he bought using online resources, fax and telephone communications and was fully involved in his newest project, the development of a meat-cutting and sausage-making school. In January of this year, he was online surfing the Internet to find resources and contacts for the project, and continued working and holding meetings in the nursing home between his recent hospital stays.

It is with deep regret and sadness, his large and still growing family says goodbye to this pioneer and pursuer of a deeper, more interesting and humorous life.