Richard “Rick” Stoller, 68, of Trumbull, Connecticut passed away on the afternoon of Thursday, March 16, 2023 while in Bridgeport Hospital’s ICU after complications from multiple surgeries to alleviate problems caused by two blood clots.
Rick was kind and gentle with an encyclopedic-like mind for facts that predated Google. Whenever anyone had a question, Rick always had the answer. If he didn’t, he’d make one up! Years ago, he was one-of-three ‘phone-a-friend’ choices for the first “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” TV show winner.
Rick had two major passions -- politics and sports. At a moment’s, notice Rick was able to endlessly discuss, and in great detail, the merits (or lack thereof!) of almost any political position. For sports, he enjoyed baseball and bowling. Rick bowled most of his life in multiple leagues at a time (his best score was a 299!) Baseball was a passion he had since his youth. He loved the statistical side of the game and playing Strat-o-Matic with friends and family. But most of all, he loved the Yankees, being a diehard fan since he was in diapers.
As a child, Rick grew up primarily in Maryland, but also spent time in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He received his associate degree from Norwalk Community College. It was there, in 1978, that he met his wife, Beth (Ginsberg) Stoller when they both joined the Student Senate. Rick was the treasurer and Beth, the secretary. The couple celebrated more than 41 years of marriage together. Rick went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of New Haven despite the challenges he faced with years of struggling with Type 1 diabetes.
While attending school full time, and for several years thereafter, Rick delivered the New York Times seven mornings a week in Greenwich. In 1983, he began his almost 40 year career at the Internal Revenue Service. His first position was as a Taxpayer Service Representative in Norwalk. He then moved into several other positions over the years including those of management and in an advisory capacity in other offices throughout Connecticut. Rick most enjoyed special assignments as an IRS Instructor where he could tell stories and share his amazing knowledge of tax and trivia!
Rick, his wife Beth, and son Brian made their most recent home in Trumbull, Connecticut. Rick is also survived by his siblings Jan (Chris) Riley of Wilton, Michelle (Kirk) Mertz of Greenwich, Robert (Mary) Stoller of Danbury, and Stephen (Teresa) Stoller of Flagler Beach, FL, amongst many other precious in-laws, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and life-long friends that complete their circle of family.
Rick is predeceased by his mother Barbara (Bobbie) Ann Clark, his father Howard Stoller, and his sister Terri Ellen (Stephen) Myers of Norwalk.
Family and friends are invited to attend A Celebration of Life service to be held at the Redgate Hennessy Funeral home at 4 Gorham Place, Trumbull, on Sunday, April 2. Calling hours will begin at 1pm. The service will begin at 2pm, with refreshments immediately following. Anyone who would like to share their memories of Rick is welcome to speak at the service, post it on this website, or email it to Beth at berist92@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Rick’s memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This organization concentrates on the prevention of Type 1 diabetes, a condition that Rick suffered from for over 50 years.