July 18, 1933 – December 22, 2013
Resident of Santa Cruz
Stanley Anthony Roitz passed away suddenly and peacefully Sunday evening December 22nd. He was 80 years old. Stan was born in Trinidad, Colorado and attended Holy Trinity Elementary and High School. He also attended Trinidad Junior College. In 1954, he enlisted in the US Navy.
He trained as a naval air cadet in Pensacola, Florida. In July 1955, he was designated a Naval Aviator. He flew aboard three aircraft 
carriers, The USS Hancock CVA 19, The USS Bon Homme Richard CVA 31, and The USS Yorktown CVS 10. Stan qualified as a landing signal officer (LSO) day and night. In his career, he flew 10 different aircraft and reached the rank of Lt. Commander. In 1958, while stationed at Moffett Field he met Mary Ellen Kane. They were married in the Valley Church in Watsonville August 8th 1959.
He then attended the University of Colorado and the newlyweds lived in Boulder, Colorado where their first child Janet was born in 1960. Stan received his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. The Roitz family moved back to Cupertino, California where Stan went to work for Lockheed and their second child John was born in 1962. In 1964,
Stan had the opportunity to fly for Pan American Airlines – his big dream. The family moved to New York, as Stan flew out of JFK. That year their third child Karen was born. At that time Stan was flying the 707 and then the L10-11. Stan had the opportunity to become a Captain on a 747 at SFO, so the family transferred back to California settling in Santa Cruz where their fourth child Paul was born in 1967. The 
family built a home in Carbonera Estates that same year and have resided there ever since. In 1992 Stan had another adventure.
He had the opportunity to return to flying and went to work for Tajik Airlines – the airlines of the Republic of Tajikistan. He ended his career flying in and out of exciting places like Karachi, Moscow, Dushanbe and Deli. In his retirement, he spent many happy days at his ranch in Wyoming hunting and fly fishing. His sons and grandchildren loved being there with him in the great outdoors. He was an active member of the Surf City Kiwanis, the Quiet Birdman and the Elks Club. He was a good man, husband, father and grandfather. In his own words from his hometown “If I don’t see ya, I’ll see ya, OK?”
Stan is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary, his four children, Janet Roitz Cutting (Hunter) San Francisco, John Roitz, Salinas, Karen Roitz, Santa Cruz, Paul Roitz, San Francisco, his sister Emily Cimino of Colorado Springs. His three grandchildren, Cazzie Cutting, Dane Cutting and Tamsin Roitz and his sister-in-law Shirley Kane of Watsonville. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel beginning at 10 a.m. Committal services will be private. If you wish to light a candle online, and share your thoughts and prayers, please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com