Stanley Sonner of Homewood, California, died surrounded by his family on September 4, 2015, three days shy of his 91st birthday. Born in Brooklyn on September 7, 1924, he was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters born to David and Rose Schlossman.
He attended and graduated from New York schools and served in the Army/Air Force during World War II. After his discharge, he and his brothers founded Light Alarms, a company that manufactured emergency lighting.
On January 11, 1957, he married Renee Katz of New York. He was an avid skier and tennis player, as well as a bridge player. He and Renee attended the U.S Open annually for many, many years and in many seasons skied Tuckerman’s Ravine a dozen weekends in a row.
In 1963, they built a home in the Mad River Valley where they spent a great deal of time with their children and friends throughout the year, skiing, playing tennis and eating at local restaurants, including Chez Henri. Warm and welcoming, their home was often filled to capacity – sleeping as many people as could find a surface big enough. The over-large dining room table was often full as was the extended kitchen counter where people lingered over tea and coffee.
Upon retirement, he and Renee traveled extensively both in the country and abroad. They spent a lot of time in Homewood, California, with their daughter, Michele, son-in-law, Rick, and grandson, Lance, as well as in Reno with their son, Paul, and his daughter, Jordan.
He had a wry sense of humor and could see humor in everything. He always had a joke at the ready. A dedicated family man, he made taking care of them his priority. Generous, gracious and loving, he welcomed people into his extended family, at their New York apartment, the ski house and his apartment in Puerto Rico.
In 2014, he and Renee moved to Homewood, California, where they made their home with their daughter and her family.
In addition to his siblings, Stanley was predeceased by his son, Paul, in 2009 and his grandson, Lance, in 2014. He is survived by his wife, Renee; his daughter, Michele and her husband Rick; and his granddaughter, Jordan.
The family wishes to thank North Tahoe Firefighters Association for their tremendous help over the past year and for their kindness to Stanley and his family.
The family asked that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the North Tahoe Firefighters Association (P.O. Box 6047, Tahoe City, CA 96145 and the tax ID number is 97-2279309. The association is a nonprofit 501c-4).
A celebration of his life will take place on October 17 at Dockside 700 Lakefront Grill, 700 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA 96145; (530) 581-0303 (www.dockside700.com, www.facebook.com/dockside700).
A later celebration of his life may take place in The Valley at a date to be announced.
