Obituary of Dr. Stanley Von Hagen

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of D. Stanley Von Hagen, PhD, of Madison, who died peacefully on Friday, September 20, 2024, at Morristown Medical Center. He was 86.

Stanley was a distinguished and treasured professor of pharmacology and statistics for many years at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey before his retirement. He was an accomplished scientist and a gifted teacher who educated future medical professionals.

Stanley is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Jean; two daughters, Karen and Leigh Ann (and her husband Rick) five cherished grandchildren; Ellen (and husband Kevin) Jane, Meg, Elizabeth (and husband William) and Ryan; and brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousin. He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Mark; his brother, Arnold, and sister-in-law, Sue. 

Stanley was born in Nashville, Tennessee to the late Keith and Elizabeth Von Hagen, where he and his brother Arnold were raised. He earned his BS at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, TN where he met Jean, and then earned a PhD in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Stanley and Jean settled in Madison, New Jersey in 1967, after he accepted a position as a professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. 

Throughout his tenure, Stanley taught scores of medical and dental students and published more than 60 research studies in scientific journals. With the advancement of personal computers in the mid-1970s, Stanley saw the potential to integrate PCs into medical research and implemented a new computer lab at UMDNJ. He had some of the first Apple and Macintosh computers available to the public and kept up with technology and trends throughout his life.

In his personal life, Stanley was a devoted husband and father, taking his family on long trips out west in the summers and skiing in the Northeast in the winters. His grandchildren brought him tremendous joy. He and Jean were quick to offer to keep the grandkids while their parents traveled or during school breaks and treated the family to epic group trips. He enjoyed keeping up with his grandkids on social media and learning new apps in the process.

Stanley and Jean visited every state in the US, and all over the world. They had a love of the outdoors, camping, and hiking including backpacking in Europe and parts of the Appalachian Trail. In later years, they enjoyed cross-country trips in their RoadTrek camper, visiting as many national parks as possible. 

Stanley also had a deep appreciation for wine. He and Jean took many wine-tasting trips throughout the US and Europe, collecting wines and growing their impressive collection. This sparked an interest in cooking and Stan became an avid home chef, trying varied cuisines. He always had a new recipe to serve at family gatherings and dinners with a group of friends called “The Gourmet Group.”

Stanley was a voracious reader of all genres, a collector of art, a photographer, and a lover of music. A mostly self-taught musician, he played the guitar, autoharp, banjo, dulcimer and rhythm bones. Stanley put his musical talent to good use playing at school assemblies in Newark and Madison public schools. He belonged to a local folk band named “Strings and Things” for several years. In retirement, he enjoyed attending the “Bones Fest” where he got to play with musicians from around the country. He had many other interests over the years including gardening and more recently a healthy eating and weight training journey, spending many hours at the YMCA. 

He leaves behind family, friends, and students who will remember him as a man who never lost his interest in learning and sharing his knowledge. 

Funeral services for Stanley will be updated and announced soon. 

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Stanley’s memory to the American Cancer Society.