Stanford (Stan) Leonard Loeb
Beloved father, son, brother, and colleague, Stanford Leonard Loeb, 78, Lawrence, Kansas, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 3, 2025. He was born on April 20, 1947 in Fontana, California, the son of Elizabeth and Edward Loeb.
Stan grew up in Claremont, California, graduating from Claremont High in 1965. In 1969 he graduated with a BA in Zoology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He returned to Santa Barbara to earn his MA in Biology in 1972. He subsequently earned his PhD in Ecology from University of California, Davis in 1980. Stan had a lifelong love of water and swimming. He participated in the Claremont High swim team and was part of the UC Santa Barbara swim team that won the NCAA College Division Championship in 1967. He wore the championship ring with great pride.
Stan worked at the Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone for three summers following high school graduation. He progressed from busboy to waiter to head waiter. While at Yellowstone, he formed a band with his colleagues known as the “Singing Busboys”, enjoyed by Yellowstone guests and staff. He was drawn to the beauty and awe of nature, which led to his career of protecting the environment.
After Stan earned his Ph.D., he continued to study in earnest water quality and the impact of the environment on water quality. He moved to Lake Tahoe, California, and joined the Lake Tahoe Research Group, Institute of Ecology, at the University of California, Davis in 1973 as a Staff Research Associate. From there he held the titles of Research Assistant, Associate Research Limnologist, and Research Professor until 1987. Stan is renowned for his expertise on Lake Tahoe, delivering invited lectures at local, national, and international levels. His collection of water samples and aquatic plant data while scuba-diving in Tahoe led him to develop a new sampling technique. His work with the Tahoe Research Group was highlighted in a National Geographic magazine, depicting him collecting data while scuba-diving.
Stan loved being outside and studying nature. When not studying Lake Tahoe, he was an avid scuba diver, water and snow skier, and snowshoer. Stan enjoyed playing the guitar and hiking with his dog, Dingo. At Lake Tahoe he was the caretaker for the Wallis family estate and a Rascal in Paradise. He knew the names of all the plants and trees on the property and loved landscaping their extensive land.
Stan was a regular at the Family Tree Diner at Lake Tahoe where he met then waitress and student, Diane Frome, who served him strawberry waffles or bacon and eggs with wheat toast. After one year of dating, Stan proposed on bended knee at Le Chemin restaurant. They married on June 16, 1984. They were married for 29 years. His love, encouragement, and support helped her to complete her doctorate. During part of that time, Stan was a Visiting Scholar with the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University. While at Purdue, he conducted research with Dr. Anne Spacie and they later edited and published the book, Biological Monitoring of Aquatic Systems.
Stan was a beloved husband. Diane thanks him for their many happy years together. During their marriage they traveled to England, Switzerland, Puerta Vallarta, Cozumel, and Spain. They lived in California, Indiana, and Kansas. Stan was the father of three wonderful children, Natelise, Alexander, and Aletha.
Natelise would describe her dad as fun, supportive, easy-going, positive, and one tough cookie. She would want the world to remember her dad as someone who could always make you smile. Her fondest memory was when she and her dad went to Diablo Lake and picked blueberries. He got caught smoking in the blueberry patch and Natelise fell into the cold lake. He earnestly asked her, “Did you decide to go swimming?” Then he smiled.
Alexander would describe his dad as gregarious, wise, altruistic, and nurturing. He would want the world to remember his dad as a selfless and giving father to his children. His fondest memory was going to piano lessons with his dad. Frequently during lessons Alexander would be abruptly alerted by a snore which announced that his dad had been lulled to sleep, initiating an unintended duet with Alexander’s piano playing. His piano instructor would remind the irritated young student that his snoring was a sign that the music put his father at peace.
Aletha would describe her dad as joyful, silly, fun-loving, kind, and supportive. She would want the world to remember her dad as a role model. An ever curious, nature-loving explorer. A deeply loving dad full of unconditional love and support for his children. Her fondest memory was sitting on the dock of Yellowstone drinking hot chocolate with him.
Nate, Aletha’s partner, would describe Stan as warm, reliable, and humble. He would want the world to remember him as a man who found exactly what he wanted in life. He was so happy to be a dad and to raise three intelligent, independent, and strong-willed children and he loved being their dad. One thing he remembers about Stan is that anytime you walk in the room, he would just look over at you and smile. He was always a welcoming man.
Stan raised his family in Kansas, living the last 35 years in Lawrence. He enjoyed giving his neighbors tours of his yard, identifying the plants and animals there. His neighbors were a source of camaraderie, and they appreciated his friendliness and love of life. The family thanks the cul-de-sac for their friendship and support through the years.
Stan was a successful scientist with an expertise in water systems. He spoke and served on advisory committees, review panels, and monitoring programs throughout California. Further, Stan was an advisor for the U.S. National Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Crater Lake Limnological Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Cascades National Park, U.S. Department of Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency. His contributions to the California State Lands Commission were instrumental to the management plan for the endangered plant, the Tahoe Yellow Cress (Rorippa subumbellata Rollins).
Stan worked for 35 years at the University of Kansas (KU). His expertise was in water quality. He was an accomplished researcher, an award-winning educator and mentor, and a transformative leader in administration. He published and presented well over 100 papers in his lifetime. Stan was invited to speak about water quality in Finland and was a member of the International Working Group on Biological Monitoring. Stan received several state and federal grants to support his research. He served as a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation for several years. He held the titles of Courtesy Assistant Professor, Department of Systematics and Ecology, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies Program, Associate Director, Environmental Studies Program, Acting Director, Environmental Studies Program (1997-2002), Undergraduate Coordinator, Environmental Studies Program, Courtesy Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Coordinator, Department of Environment, Health and Safety (2005-2025).
Stan taught six different courses in the Environmental Studies Program and mentored many Environmental Studies Program Honors’ students by directing their Honors Research involving aquatic ecology. Stan cared deeply for his students and always wanted the best for them. In recognition of his contributions to teaching and mentoring, Stan received the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Outstanding Advisor Award – Faculty Advisor. He was nominated for one of the highest teaching awards voted by students, the Honor for Outstanding Progressive Educators (HOPE) Award, as well as for the Michael J. Young Advisor Award, and the Distinguished Teaching Award.
In 1996, Stan served as the Associate Director of the Environmental Studies Program. A year later he served as the Acting Director of the Program and developed a long-range plan for the Program. The final plan included the development of a graduate program and a center for Environmental Studies. As director he increased the FTE faculty in the Program by 44% and the number of affiliates in the Program by 33%. During his tenure as the Acting Director, the Program’s endowment experienced substantial growth, primarily supporting scholarships for students pursuing Environmental Studies. In addition, Stan secured funding to develop a computer laboratory for the Environmental Studies students. He also helped organize the first two Environmental Career Symposia. During his tenure, the Environmental Studies Program was recognized by the Fiske guide and continues to be a leading program at KU.
Stan worked as the Coordinator of the Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) at KU for the last 20 years of his life. He was active in his work until the time of his death. The family thanks his EHS family for the support and friendship they provided over the years. Stan loved going to work largely due to the talented and kind people in the Department. One of his roles was the monitoring and safeguarding of the water quality at Potter Lake on KU’s campus. His efforts transformed and conserved Potter Lake for generations to come. During this time, Stan was also an expert consultant who assessed the impact of development on the water quality at Lake Tahoe to limit environmental damage. When not studying water, he was swimming three days a week at KU.
Stan’s impact went beyond the Environmental Studies Program. He also assisted and advised the KU General Counsel on matters in Lawrence associated with the environmental impacts that affected KU. Stan served on the Faculty Council, the University Governance Committee, the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee and on the University’s Career and Employment Services Employer Advisory Council. He belonged to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Water Works Association, Sigma Xi, and the Societas Internationalis Limnologiae.
Stan was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth, father, Edward, and stepfather, Robert Shine. He is survived by his daughter Natelise Loeb, of Portland, Oregon; his son Alexander Loeb, of Lawrence, Kansas; his daughter, Aletha Loeb (and life partner, Nate Hulse), of Sacramento, California; Diane Loeb, of Waco, Texas; sister Rhoda Slagle (and husband, Alan), and niece Elena Slagle of El Dorado, California; niece Brenell Fahey of Walpole, Massachusetts and brother Edward Loeb Jr. of Virginia and family, including niece Melonie Loeb and nephew Edward Loeb III.
In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated. The family will hold a Celebration of Life at the Cider Gallery in Lawrence, KS on Sunday, June 8th between 12 and 3 pm. In lieu of flowers the family suggest any gift in his memory be made as a donation to either the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (http://tahoe.ucdavis.edu) or the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org).
“Always remember, there’s never enough fun.”
