Stanley D. Means Bequest Backs Research

Through a bequest from his estate, The Stanley D. Means Heart Disease Research Award has been established to support cardiovascular research. The Sarver Heart Center was the fortunate recipient of these funds following Mr. Means' death in February of 1998. This research award will support the investigation that holds the most promise in helping the UA Sarver Heart Center scientists to advance the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of heart and vascular disease. The award honors both an active member of the Tucson community and the foresight of a man who wanted to make a difference for others.

The patients that are helped by his gift of research funding will be but a few of the many lives that were touched by the generosity of this kind man. “He was one of the most kind and generous people you could know,” says Alice Means of her late husband. Stanley was an avid golfer at the Oro Valley Country Club and was introduced to Alice Crose. Both were members of the club and had experienced the death of their spouses.

As Alice and Stanley spent more time together, playing golf and sharing stories, they wondered why their paths had not crossed earlier. Stanley was born on June 7th, 1907 in Gibson City, Illinois. He had spent the first 22 years of his life there before moving with his parents to Tucson. Alice had grown up less than 50 miles away from him. They took clarinet lessons from the same teacher and attended the same big band dances, though neither of them remembered seeing the other.
Their first date was on Valentine's Day of 1988. Alice recalls spending a long time picking out the perfect outfit to wear and preparing for their special evening. “I put on my best dress and when he arrived, he said 'Let's go out to the Coco's that has the coleslaw and then we can come back and watch Matlock.'” She would often remind him of that day, shaking her head.

“He would always say, 'But I've made up for it since, haven't I?' and he certainly did.” They married in the fall of 1989 and spent the next ten years of their lives together. During those years they dined in some of the finest restaurants, Mrs. Means adds.

Stan was employed by a Chicago paving company who paved 9 ½ miles of the Tucson-Nogales highway. During that time he met and married Edna Steinke in 1933. In the winter they came to Tucson where he sold advertising for the Tucson Daily Citizen. Upon returning to Illinois he was employed by the renowned philanthropist R.B. Le Tourneau, who invented heavy-duty earth moving equipment. He led the R.G. Le Tourneau office in Washington D.C. until the end of World War II. Until his retirement in 1972, Stanley served as General Manager and Vice President of Illinois Contractor Machinery, the distributor of Le Tourneau equipment in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Stanley D. Means' gift is a lasting reminder of his desire to help others. He was careful throughout his life to make investment and savings decisions that would ensure that his gifts would be significant. Through the investment of the researchers whose work will benefit from his kindness and forethought, his gift will help in the continuing battle against heart disease and stroke at the Sarver Heart Center.