A recollection of Ed Stas by his son Stefan, with whom he lived for several years in Lenoxville, PA., before his death at age 98. He was born in the city of Perth Amboy, NJ., and had lived most of his life in that state.Edward outlived all of his siblings. When asked the secret of his longevity, he usually said it was due to never drinking whisky that came from an unlabeled bottle. He attended public school in Perth Amboy, and graduated from Ohio University in Athens, OH., in 1933. In 1939, he married a fellow student of the university, Virginia Kelly, a native of Ohio. Their marriage lasted until her death in 1982, and produced several children.He was the youngest child of Frank and Anna (Balak) Stas of Perth Amboy, a man active in civic and business life there during the early part of the 20th Century. My father probably got his common sense from his father's experience-one learns a lot owning a speakeasy and drugstore in the 1920's.He used his degree in finance from Ohio University to good effect both in his primary job as Purchasing Manager for the Du Pont Company, and in his avocations. He knew to the penny how much he was ahead or behind at the casinos. He knew where just about every card was in a 5-card poker hand, and when the blackjack deck was shy of ten-cards. He taught me the value of interest, and knowing with whom you invest. When I was a teenager, I'd loan him 10 dollars from my flying lesson savings to play poker, and he'd always give me back 20 the next day. Nobody pays that kind of interest to me anymore. He taught me to never double down when you have 11-you might get an ace.Doubtless from his days in the U.S. Cavalry reserves in the early thirties, he imparted the wisdom of never having a hobby that eats a mountain of food and turns it into a mountain of manure. I've never owned a horse (my wife did, and I always wistfully remembered the wisdom).He was a temperate and frugal man, but of unbending principles. He never drank water if beer or whisky (preferably over 10 years old) was available, and he abided by that to his last days. We had a rough time getting him to drink water when he was weakening, but a beer was no problem. He wouldn't drive more that 75 miles to a card game, and wouldn't gamble more that he had in his pockets. I'm sure Atlantic City casino management wasn't happy with him; he ate and drank more value than he gave to them for years.During the Depression, he was offered a job as a high school math teacher, but refused because he'd have to become a Democrat. He hated Wilson, Roosevelt and Clinton, but loved Truman and Reagan. His sense of history was remarkable. He said that Obama was saying the same things about Bush that Roosevelt was saying about Hoover. He managed to raise a family of Republicans in a Democratic county.He was compassionate to those truly in need. He gave generously to Disable Veterans, the Salvation Army, Indian reservations, Animal shelters and the Audubon Society. He would voluntarily contribute mightily, but hated the government taking his money to use for useless causes. In his younger days, he was a volunteer fireman, with the Kiwanis Club he worked often on charitable affairs to benefit disadvantaged children, and belonged to the Civil Defense and police reserves.We, his children, Donna, Frank, Stefan and David will miss our walking, talking irascible fount of history very much.A memorial gathering for family and friends was held at the Stas residence in Lenoxville, PA., on Saturday, August 8th, from 2 to 5 pm.Cremation arrangements were under the care of the Shifler-Parise Funeral Home Cremation Services, Dundaff Main Streets, Clifford, PA. Memorial donations may be made to his favorite charity, the Salvation Army.