03/03/2024
https://www.freesefh.com/obituary/David-Stansel
David Stansel
October 22, 1964 ~ February 15, 2024 (age 59)
David Alan Stansel, age 59, of Seminole, Florida, left us on February 15th, 2024. Son of the late Doris Stansel and Dr. HC Stansel of Woodbridge Connecticut and Philo, Illinois, he grew up with a penchant for adventure and carefully engineered escapades from an early age. With siblings and friends, he would spend time applying his skills of precision to orchestrating expeditions into the woods near his home and designing lighting speed sledding courses from the top of the hill on their property down into the adjoining field. All these moments were elevated by a cool enthusiasm and optimism that with carefully applied strategy and intelligence, anything is possible. In high school, with a growing interest and innate aptitude for the mechanical, he applied his curiosity to projects such as purchasing his first car, a white Triumph Spitfire, which he proceeded to take apart one piece at a time and arrange, in a logical and carefully considered fashion around the perimeter of the car, to be thoughtfully studied, and then augmented by whatever he discovered needed fixing, in order to be reassembled back into the roadster, imbuing it with the elevated level of mechanical refinement that he deemed worthy.
These years would launch David into an eclectic education with mind-expanding years spent at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut in Wallingford, CT, Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, and the University of Tampa. In Tampa, he spent several years as coxswain of the crew, settled into the uniquely suitable role of orchestrating the smooth and efficient forward motion of the boat through the water by way of yelling specific commands from his perch at the front of the boat. His high school and college years were woven throughout with a love of the Grateful Dead and a pastime of logging time at their myriad shows.
David’s travels continued when he moved to Arizona and took up his love of motorcycle racing and mechanics. There, he competed semi-professionally, and opened his own motorcycle repair shop, SR AXIS, where he was of mechanical assistance to the enthusiasts around him. From there, David returned to Florida where he spent several years honing his skills as a mechanic of boats at Thunder Marine in St. Petersburg, and then settled himself in Seminole, where he opened the Jet Ski Store, a supplier of parts and boundless well-informed assistance to the broad community there. He lived with a beautiful view over the intercoastal waterway, spending many mornings and evenings beneath the beautiful sunrises and sunsets there, traveling to work in one of his much-loved sportscars, with his loyal dog Franz as his passenger. His skill as a mechanic and his tremendously generous spirit shaped a community around him there, and he will be greatly missed.
The soundtrack to much of David’s life was informed by his penchant for music and playing guitar, which he did, for most of his life, with great enthusiasm and a love ranging from blues and classic rock to folk. His life was also uniquely colored by his affinity for collecting. To be specific, German sportscars, rare guitars and fine watches, all of which were thoroughly researched and assigned merit based upon their specific pedigree and provenance. As an innate storyteller, if one happened to inquire, he would happily expound upon the glories of each gem in his collection for hours.
David leaves behind his sisters, Pamela Zamore of Boston, MA, Carolyn LeNard of Arlington, VA, and his loyal Belgian Shephard Franz, who was always by his side. He will be dearly remembered as a caring older brother and friend, and a bright and singular human being.
A graveside service will be held at Locust Grove Cemetery in Philo, Illinois on March 9th at 11 am.
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