Stan was born in 1946, at Dr. J. D. Niles’ black market ‘clinic in Delaware, USA. Two months later he was adopted by the Gottschalks of New Rochelle, NY. 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 with two Bachelor of Science degrees (Earth Sciences and Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering), and then going on to earn a Master’s degree  and a Professional degree – both in Ocean Engineering.

In 1970 he left the US and emigrated to Australia. He quickly became an Australian citizen, and completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne. 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. 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) .

During his time at the 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.

Around 1980 he, Howard and Fred 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.Stan with his AMC oceanography students on the "Bluefin", 1990

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 to change its emphasis on 16mm ‘classics’ screenings and turn it into 35mm ‘art house’ society, screening the best of current world film. He was made a Life Member of the Society in 2005.

In 1986 he answered an audition ad in the paper and began his involvement in local theatre, and with Three River Theatre in particular. He remains active in that Company after more than 25 shows over the years, and has been a Life Member since 2006.

Stan began playing guitar in 1959, and started performing traditional folk music at various Australian folk clubs and festivals in about 1974. He worked solo until the late 1980s, when he  joined forces with Rebecca, Steve and Jane to for what was to become The New Holland Honey Eatersstring band, which continues to perform to this day.

Stan and Rebecca married in 1994, and he became stepfather to Rebecca’s daughter Nadia. Rebecca is now retired from her profession as social worker and finds herself busy with her work for the Tasmanian Greens political party, with the Pilgrim Uniting Church, the Honey Eaters, golf, and with her family - especially the grandchildren.

Nadia earned a degree in Philosophy from the University of Tasmania, became a serving NSW police officer, and later police prosecutor, while gaining a Master's degree in Criminology from Sydney University. She is married to Charles and has two children, Ben and Elena, and lives in Beechworth, VIC, where they have purchased the local bookshop. She completed her Juris Doctor degree from the University of New England and was admitted to the bar in NSW. She is now working as a criminal lawyer with a small firm in Wodonga;, continuing to pursue her PhD, spending her time managing her horses and farm, helping the family run the bookshop - and managed to find time to run as a Labor candidate for the House of Representatives in the last Federal election.

Since his own retirement, Stan has occupied himself with his family, travel, his theatrical and musical pursuits, with the reading and discussion of good literature, and with the drinking of interesting wine.