Richard H Stoffels Sr

Rotterdam- Richard H. Stoffels Sr., 77, passed into the Arms of Our Lord, on Tuesday April 8, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Richard, the son of the late Louis Stoffels and Ruth Stoffels Wasson was born in Albany. He was a 1956 graduate of Philip Schuyler High School. He was employed by the New York State Division of Taxation and Finance in Albany for forty years. Active in his community, Richard served as: Co-President of the Brandywine School PTO from 1973-1976;Scout Leader for the Boy Scouts of America Troop 29 for five years and also served as Deacon of Building and Grounds at Zion Lutheran Church from 2004 to 2013. Richard contracted polio in 1941. He lived for two and a half years at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, which at that time was dedicated to caring for those with polio. Thankful for the care he received there, Richard later in life volunteered at the hospital for twenty years. In 2006 he was named Capital District Volunteer of the Year. He later was employed by Sunnyview for an additional eight years. Richard was the beloved husband of 53 years to Patricia M. Van Patten Stoffels; beloved father of Richard H. Stoffels Jr., and Kathleen Stoffels-Brust; beloved brother of Sandra (Al) Pangburn; loving grandfather of Christina (Joseph) Rankin, Stephanie (Robert) Beck, Steven McMurray, Elizabeth Stoffels, Justin and Jeremy Brust; doting great- grandfather of Owen Rankin and Alexis Beck. Richard is also survived by several nieces and nephews. A calling period will be held Saturday April 12 from 10 to 12 noon at Zion Lutheran Church. A funeral service will immediately follow at noon at the church. Burial will follow in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Sand Creek Rd. Colonie. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Richards name may be made to Zion Lutheran Church- 153 Nott Terrace Schenectady, N.Y. 12308 or the Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation 1270 Belmont Ave, Schenectady, N.Y. 12308.online condolences may be left at www.demarcostonefuneralhome.com