Stan was born on 13 July, 1946, at Dr. J. D. Niles’ black market ‘clinic’ in Middletown, Delaware, USA, to Betty Jane Biesinger of Wilmington, Delaware. In August of that year he was adopted by Lester and Irma Gottschalk, then of New Rochelle, NY, USA. There he lived with his brother Arthur – adopted through the same black market channel – until 1954 when the Family moved to Palm Beach, Florida.
He attended Palm Beach Elementary School and Palm Beach Junior High School on the island, and Palm Beach High School in West Palm Beach, graduating as salutatorian in 1964. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1968 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Earth Sciences and also in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and then going on to earn a Master’s degree (1969) and a Professional degree (1970) – both in Ocean Engineering.
In July of 1970 he left the US and emigrated to Melbourne, Australia. He became an Australian citizen in 1971, and completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne (1973). He lectured at the Footscray Institute of Technology (now VUT) before taking a position as Head of Maths and Science at Oakburn College, Launceston, Tasmania (1975). In 1979 he left Oakburn College, and worked at a variety of part-time and casual jobs until his employment as a lecturer at the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in 1984.
About 1980 he and Howard Smith and Fred Peacock formed the Flying Pigs Oenological Society to improve their knowledge of wine (practice, practice, practice!) – and the group, expanded to 5 couples, continues practicing to this day.
At about the same time he became active in the Launceston Film Society, one of the oldest and most successful film societies in the country, helping change its emphasis on 16mm ‘classics’ screenings and turn it into 35mm ‘art house’ society screening the best of current world film.
During his time at AMC he developed the institution’s professional degree programs in both Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, and served both on the College Council and as Head of the Academic Board before his retirement as a Senior Lecturer in 2001.
Stan married Rebecca David in 1994, and became stepfather to Rebecca’s daughter Nadia.
Since his retirement he has occupied himself with his theatrical and musical pursuits, with the reading and discussion of good literature, and the Flying Pigs; he is a Life Member of The Launceston Film Society and Three River Theatre, and a Board Member of Theatre North - and he is now a victim of his own amusements. |
