Rev. Stanley J. Nadolny Jr. (78) of Apache Junction AZ, passed away from a brief illness on February 17, 2021. He had been an active Catholic priest for 52 years and lived a lifetime of service to others. He had a passion for educating youth and was most recently responsible for religious education programs at St. George Church in Apache Junction. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Stanley and Mary (Ingram) Nadolny, who owned Nadolny’s College Spa in New Britain, CT for 30 years. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Julian and Carol Nadolny of Kensington CT, nieces and nephew Mary & Chris Beeson of Wethersfield CT, Rita & Gary Lomasney of Glastonbury CT, Susan & Tim Hill of Ellicott City MD and Julian & Cynthia Nadolny of Apopka FL. He is also survived by his great-nieces and nephews, Justin Nadolny, Megan Lomasney, Ian Hill, John Lomasney, Garrett Hill, Audrey Hill, and Julianna Nadolny, who he visited often and enjoyed seeing grow up in his later years.
Father Stan, as he liked to be called, attended St. Thomas seminary in Bloomfield CT and then St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore MD. He later earned a Master’s degree in theology from Yale Divinity School. He was ordained on May 23, 1968 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford CT and celebrated his first public mass at Sacred Heart Church in New Britain, which was his family’s parish. He served as associate pastor at St. Theresa’s parish in Branford CT before he was called to serve on the Tohono O’odham (Papago) Indian Reservation in Arizona in 1974. He spent 15 years on the reservation before becoming pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Bisbee AZ from 1995 to 2001. He supervised a significant church refurbishment while in Bisbee and joined the St. George Church parish in Apache Junction in 2001. Fr. Stan loved to travel and spoke a number of languages including Polish, Spanish, French and Papago. He served as chaplain for many pilgrimages and visited Ireland, Israel, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Italy, among other countries. A highlight of his ministry was meeting Pope John Paul II. Fr. Stan served in the Pope’s honor guard when he visited Phoenix in 1987. In 2018, he celebrated his golden jubilee with his St. George Church family.
Fr. Stan made friends wherever he went and was loved by the many people to whom he ministered over the years. His family will miss his wisdom and guidance as our family’s spiritual leader. Funeral services will be held on March 4 at St. George Church in Apache Junction AZ. Another service and burial in New Britain CT will take place at a later date at the convenience of the family.
I had the pleasure of knowing Fr. Stan since he first came to St. George. My children grew up with him through Religious Education and learned a lot from him.. They loved Fr. Stan. When I started working at St. George I grew much closer to him. His knowledge and wisdom always impressed me. He was a kind and giving person. I will miss him dearly and I will forever be grateful that he was a part of my life. I love you Fr. Stan. Rest in Peace.
Fr Stan married us in 1971. Except for Gale’s lost battle this past October to Multiple Myeloma (a blood cancer), it would have been 50 years in June of 2021. During those years, Gale and Fr Stan stayed in touch until recently; but now I know they are together again.
I extend my condolences to Julian & Carol and all the Nadolny family on the loss of their dear Father Stan, who was also a good friend from the days we were altarboys at Sacred Heart church, through our elementary school years, spending Seminary days at STS and SMS a year ahead of him; plus our young priestly years in the Archdiocese of Hartdord. I always admired his answering God’s call to serve our native American sisters and brothers in Arizona. His obituary captures a little of the dedicated priest that he was. May our Lord reward him now forever.
Father Henry Smolinski [ordained 1967]
Stanley and I were a year apart at Saint Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, CT, in the late 1950’s. We probably have never spoken since, and yet he remains a warm part of my memories; some people are like that, it seems; they somehow impress themselves indelibly on you and your life. Stan was one such. I offer condolences to Julian, whom I remember from The College Spa. And I give thanks that Stan was a part of my life and so remains, even after all these many years.
Sincerest sympathy to Jay and Carol on the loss of your brother.
I remember him from Sacred Heart School!
He served as an altar boy.
Beautiful obituary highlighting his personality and years of service.
In 1989 I asked Fr Stan if he would be available to come to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Montana as I was taking a sabbatical. I was living on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, and also had a farming-ranching parish in Big Sandy and a parish in between at Box Elder, MT. To my surprise he said my invitation was an answer to prayer. Fr Stan was here from July 1989 through June 1990. The people in all three parishes loved him, he was a blessing to them as they were to him. Fr Stan stayed in touch with us over the years. He did not master the icy driving that winter.
Peace be with you Fr Stan.
Fr Peter Guthneck
Thank you for your condolences. My uncle always remembered his time in Montana fondly. There were a numbers of photos from that time in his memorial slideshow but sadly, it was difficult to work it into his official obituary. Thank you for adding that detail here. And he never did master driving in the snow, even with frequent trips to CT during the winter holidays!
I just found out about Fr. Stanley’s death. I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Fr. Stanley when he was the pastor of St. Patrick’s and St. Michael’s Mission in Bisbee and Naco, Arizona. We worked close together with the start of our youth group as well as help immigrants on the border. It hurts my heart to know he is no longer with us. He truly was a big influence in my life. I owe him a ton of gratitude in helping on my way to my ministry and my journey walking with God. He will be truly missed. We love you Fr.. Stan!!!
I had the pleasure of having had Father Stanley Naldony, being my parish priest at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bisbee, Arizona. Father Stanley also baptized our family members here at St. George. RIP, my good friend.
He did my wedding he was a lovely man he will be missed
Father Stan, I ask Almighty God to bless you in a very special way. Thank you for helping me with this new life. I love you and can’t wait to see you in the eternal Kingdom. I will see you there my friend! Until we meet again pray for me to enter the diaconate. Totus Tuus my Lord Jesus.