Preston J. Stanley Jr.

Preston Stanley obit photo

Preston John Stanley Jr., 87, passed away on February 25, 2023, at Southern NH Medical Center in Nashua. He was born on August 1, 1935, in Kezar Falls, ME, the son of the late Preston John Stanley and Evelyn (Watson) Stanley. He was the loving husband of the late Patricia Mae (Kenerson) Stanley. They were married in Maine on June 28, 1958.

Preston attended Porter High School in Porter, ME and graduated 1953. He was one of 17 students in his graduation class. He went on to give college a good try at University of Maine in Orono, but his heart was really in truck driving (his father owned a trucking business back in Kezar Falls, Me). Legend has it, on more than one occasion his mother Evelyn dropped him at college, and he made it back to their doorstep before she even got home!

He served in the Army for two years from 1954-1956. He used up every bit of his leave to travel. He definitely had the wanderlust and strived to see as much of the world as he could taking every bit of leave to travel.

Upon coming back from the service, he re-enrolled into the Mechanical Engineering Program at University of Maine, Orono and at this time he was ready to work hard, yet still enjoy college life as a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He met the love of his life, Patricia, at the University of Maine and graduated from there with a BS in Engineering and a Masters in Economics. They married while he was still attending college and had their first daughter, Debra in May of 1959.

Upon graduating from University of Maine, Preston took a job as a mechanical engineer at Improved Machinery Company (IMPCO) in Nashua, NH. He worked there for about 20 years, but had the notion to collect and restore antique stoves. He started the business now known as Stanley Iron Works. In the early 80’s he left his job at IMPCO which was by then Ingersoll Rand and purchased a small factory in Nashua to go full time into the Antique Stove Refurbishing Business. Preston had many stories of where stoves landed after being refurbished, some even on movie sets! If you know Stanley Iron Works, then you also know Peter Fitzgerald. He was Preston’s main man. Stoves and employees came and went, but Peter and Preston were in it together for the long haul. Preston loved people and was so many people’s first call or only call.

He was always proud of everyone’s educational accomplishments and championed everyone to do what they loved. He has quite a legacy of colleges he supported with his daughter Debbie graduating from Purdue and Smith, his daughter Dania graduating from Michigan State and Columbia, Grandchildren: TJ Hiney graduating from University of Vermont and Suffolk University, Emalyn Hiney Belcher graduating from University of Vermont and University of Colorado, Anschutz, Libby Hiney graduating from Keene State College and currently attending University of Western California, Tori Hiney, graduating from University of Maine Orono (elevating her to his favorite). Taylor O’Connor Valenta graduating from Michigan State, Sarah O’Connor Dodson Graduating from Longwood University with an undergraduate and graduate degree, Alex O’Connor attending West Virginia University and Dylan O’Connor attending University of Maryland, both Alex and Dylan going in the banking industry. He supported many local young adults by encouraging them to go on to college as well as helping with fees and the ins and outs of college loans. During the 1970’s and early 80’s he served on the Nashua Vocational Technology Board to assist HS and Post HS graduates on considering the trades specifically offering time on machinery to be school to work ready.

On the subject of his grandkids, no project was too small. He rebuilt a small amusement park complete with a train and merry go round with each of their names on their spots behind one of his houses. He also refinished numerous pedal cars as well as battery operated cars. He was very excited to get each of them driving as soon as they could barely reach the pedals. So many funny stories and yes a few went into the stream out back!

Preston had a very special relationship with Bud’s Restaurant in Nashua and all of the employees and patrons. He really did have a village. They all meant the world to him. You could find him at precise times chatting up work friends, old friends, new friends, colleagues, and especially the staff.

Once Pat and Pres moved to Nashua, they stayed there for the duration. The red house on Archery Lane was a beloved gathering spot for all occasions, especially pool parties. It was not unusual to call up Preston to hear a myriad of people in the background splashing around, grilling, and having a grand time. He loved having people over and sharing his pool. He would spend a great part of the spring getting ready for summer by getting all the pool toys ready for the neighborhood kids. He lived for summer BBQ and the sound of laughter and splashing.

His legacy is also in Parsonsfield, ME where he grew up. His family originally had a camp on Colcord Pond, but eventually built a camp on Long Pond. Preston was an avid hiker, winter and water skier! Most winters were spent planning three big hikes for his two weeks off. He would take all of the kids from the pond to do practice hikes then the big climb; Mt Washington every summer from 1965-1977. He would even set up a slalom ski course on the lake to work on his “cuts” while water skiing. He loved winter skiing as well and took his daughters Debbie and Dania and any of their friends that were available each weekend to Indian Head Ski Area.

He was an incredible car enthusiast over the years. He generally loved Ford cars especially the Thunderbird, but he owned a SS Wanderer, Lexis, Mustangs, at least two Camaros, and his most recent love was his Cobra. He shared this passion with tractors and rebuilt a number of John Deere Tractors. His legacy in the neighborhood was to mow and plow any driveway or lawn folks would let him do. More recently he was honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the Pennichuck Water Works.

Aside from his spouse, Preston is predeceased by his sister, Barbara Ann Stanley, and his great-granddaughter, Emma Paige Valenta.

Survivors include his children, Debra Hiney and her spouse Thomas Hiney of Portsmouth NH, Dania O’Connor and her spouse Michael O’Connor of Woodbine, MD. Survivors also include his grandchildren: Thomas Hiney and his spouse Elizabeth Critzer Hiney of Golden, CO, Emalyn Hiney Belcher and her spouse Nathan Belcher of Atlanta, GA, Elizabeth ( Libby) Hiney of Badgers Island, ME, Victoria (Tori) Hiney of North Quincy, MA, Taylor O’Connor Valenta and her spouse Bradley Valenta of Woodbine, MD, Sarah O’Connor Dodson and her spouse Christopher Dodson of New Windsor, MD, Alex O’Connor and his spouse Molly Brennan O’Connor of Leicester, MA, and Dylan O’Connor of Woodbine, MD. He also leaves behind his great-grandchildren: Jack, Owen and Natalie Dodson, Chloe and Emily Valenta, Samuel, Sophia and Beau O’Connor and Thomas “Tripp” Hiney.

SERVICES: Visitation will be held on Wednesday March 1, 2023, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St., Nashua, NH 03064. A second period of visitation will be held Thursday, March 2, 2023, from 10:00 – 11:00 am at Davis Funeral Home. A funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 am at Davis Funeral Home. Family and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, and to follow in Preston’s footsteps, please consider NH Gives: https://www.nhgives.org/ to donate to a cause that best matches your relationship with Preston.

The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua has been placed in charge of arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com, (603-883-3401) “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER”.