Obituary of Stanley Martin Graff

STANLEY MARTIN GRAFF Clifton Park- Stanley Martin Graff, 75 of Clifton Park, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 22, 2018 at Community Hospice at Samaritan Hospital, in Troy. Born in McCook, Nebraska on November 22, 1942, he was the son of the late Martin and Dorothy (Weskamp) Graff. Stanley was married to Diana Louise (Tharp) Graff on June 8, 1968 and prior to his passing, shared 50 loving years. Before retirement, Stan was Vice President of the Dealer Division with the First Interstate Bank in Denver, Colorado and then in Scottsdale, Arizona. While in Colorado, Stan served as president of a banking association; coached a young football team; skied, fished, and golfed. He loved gardening....especially his forty two select tea rose bushes. Because of his impressive stature and physical prowess, Stan was a natural athlete and quite the football hero in high school, junior college, and again at Colorado State University. When it came to sports, everyone wanted him on their Trivia team. Stan never missed watching a football game on TV but held a special place in his heart for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Denver Broncos. His competitive spirit was present in every kind of game and especially when he played Duplicate Bridge. Stan liked all kinds of puzzles... particularly Sudoku and jigsaw. His two sons expressed that they were blessed with such a loving, supportive, generous Dad who served as a role model in leading them to become men of integrity. He loved going on cruises with his wife and friends plus trips to NY State to spend time with his four grandchildren. An important life changing event for Stan was when God saved him physically and spiritually during a 2015 hospital stay. After their move to Clifton Park, NY, a brief encounter in a store led Stan and Diana to Grace Fellowship Church. Because of Stan's condition, they faithfully streamed the Latham church service each Sunday. Our quiet, wise "John Wayne" is with our Heavenly Father but will be sorely missed here with us. In addition to his beloved wife Diana of Clifton Park, he is survived by his loving sons: Ryan Graff of San Rafael, CA and Dan (Jennifer) Graff of Saratoga Springs; his cherished grandchildren Derek, Danny, Brayden, and Maddison Graff; as well as his siblings Kenneth (Kathy) Graff of Denver, CO, Richard (Anita) Graff of McCook, NE, and Verlene (Steven) Reed of Fairview, plus many relatives and dear friends in Colorado, Texas, and New York. Celebration of Stan's life will be for his immediate family at the Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home in Latham, NY In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions can be made in Stanley's memory to the AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, 418 Broadway Albany New York 12207 or www.lung.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/ For information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.