Ronald Martin Stoll
November 9, 1945 - January 22, 2023

On January 22, 2023, Ronald Martin Stoll passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife Elizabeth and his six children in Phoenix, Arizona. Ron was born on November 9, 1945, to Ernest and Marie Stoll in the place where all roads lead back to...Toledo, Ohio. The middle child sandwiched between two sisters, he was much adored by his family which he made easy by being the model child...or so the legend goes! He grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood where life wasn't always easy, and this experience informed his view of the world and instilled in him a drive to excel.

Proud alumni of St. Francis de Sales High School, he was senior class president, captain of the football team, and valedictorian of his class of 1963. However, his most bragworthy accomplishment of that period was dating one Betty Huss, who would later become his wife of 55 years and mother of his six children.

His hard work in high school earned him an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, where he was selected to be a member of the Brigade staff and graduated near the top of his class of 1967. His nemesis, however, was swimming-the only class he received a grade lower than an A in and the reason he became an officer in the Marine Corps instead of the Navy upon graduation. To be honest, given how proud he was to be a Marine, there is no doubt that this "fail" was anything but.

Ron and Betty married on July 1, 1967, right before he headed off to the Vietnam War. During his deployment, he became a father to David, the first of his 6 children. Upon his return, he finished his commitment to the military as a White House Liaison to the Secretary of the Navy in Virginia and added Kristin to the brood. Ron and Betty returned to Toledo in 1972, and in short order added Carin, Brian, and Emily to his accomplishments while attending law school at the University of Toledo. When Betty, a nurse, worked the night shift at the hospital, he spent that time convincing his kids that the Marine Corps hymn was a lullaby.

After a brief stop in Des Moines, IA, Ron, Betty (now aka Elizabeth), and the family moved to Phoenix, AZ, in 1979, after a visit to Elizabeth's parents resulted in a job offer at a law firm there. Soon after, Amy's arrival completed the Stoll (Brady bunch) 6. As a successful real estate attorney, he was known for his impeccable integrity. But, staying true to his roots, Ron would rather be known for his impact on his community, whether it was coaching his child's team, starting the first PTA at his kids' school with Elizabeth, continuing his service in the Marine reserves (retiring with the rank of Major), being Chairman of the Board for Catholic Charities of Arizona, becoming active in social justice issues with his church, or providing pro bono legal services for abused women seeking immigration asylum.

All that said, he took being a provider very seriously and considered his family to be his greatest legacy. While that meant long hours at the office when his kids were young, he worked hard to make up for lost time through his grandkids. Not ready to be called "Grandpa" at 48 years old, Ron decided that he wanted to be called "Bubba" instead-a name that stuck and became a term of endearment spoken by family and friends alike. Bubba took his "Bubba" role with the grandchildren very seriously-hiding Easter eggs in the most obscure places, crafting the annual Christmas trivia game, attending their many, many sporting and school events, making sure they knew the date of every Army-Navy game, and asking them the most uncomfortable, thought-provoking questions that would rival their hardest job interviews.

To everyone else, he was known as "Rocking Ron" on the dance floor, for being late for every vacation, and for crafting epic "Father of the Bride" speeches. He had the driest of wits, was fiercely stubborn, and sang loud and proud even though he couldn't sing a note on key. A complicated person on the one hand, he was genuinely satisfied with simple pleasures. He never met a salty snack or a root beer float he didn't like and enjoyed a salt-rimmed margarita on the occasions that he partook.

As if on cue, Ron took his last breath moments after his family toasted him with margaritas in hand and played him "Danny Boy" which he had sung a line from out of the blue not a few days earlier. He is joined in Heaven by his parents Marie and Ernest Stoll, in-laws Lucy and Chester Huss, brother-in-law Francis Granata, and niece Amy (Schlageter) Nelson. He is survived by his incredible wife Elizabeth Stoll, children David Stoll (Rita), Kristin Kufel (Eric), Carin Longo (John), Brian Stoll (Katie), Emily Fox (Sam), and Amy Forsythe (Warren); grandchildren, Carina, Seth, Audrey, Evelyn Stoll; Jake, Max and Annie Kufel; Jack, Nick, and Cate Longo; Brady and Sienna Stoll; Noah and Chloe Fox; and Connor, Elise, and Savannah Forsythe; his sisters Carol Stoll and Linda Granata; Elizabeth's siblings, Darla (John) Schlageter and Lee (Diane) Huss, and, last but not least, all of his nieces and nephews from both sides who he adored.

Private services will be held with his family. In lieu of flowers, Ron would request, if he could, that any desire to honor his legacy support the causes that were important to him and who work tirelessly to improve the lives of others. Please consider donating to Hospice of the Valley (https://www.hov.org/donate/donate-now/) or Catholic Charities of AZ (https://www.catholiccharitiesaz.org/donate-now) in Ron's honor.

He was famous for saying "Love you, see you, bye..." when leaving family events or ending a phone call. Love you, see you, bye Bubba, until we see you again.

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