The Great Grampino has left the stage. Stanley Gene Wiener passed on in the early morning hours of a rainy San Francisco night. It was a time of night when even the newspaper trucks and late night revelers were off the street, although there was a time when he might have still been up, polishing off a client's tax return. He leaves behind a loving family to remember his brightness: sons Gary (Beth) and Joel (Jeanne), grandchildren Aaron (Kendal), Jaimey (Justin), Sarah, and Jacob, great grandchildren Katie and Kai Wiener and Lev Tedrick, along with beloved family members, friends, associates, and young athletes too many to count. Among those, the family will always be grateful for the lifetime devotion and love of his closest friend, Donald Ungar (thanks, Uncle Don).
Stan was the son of Aaron and Frances Kaplan Wiener, born September 10, 1927. He was a proud native San Franciscan. The farthest he ever strayed was a home on the other side of the border fence in Westlake, and he has lived in the same house in the West Portal area since 1963. He was an Argonne schoolyard kid in the Richmond, and had endless tales of those memorable days of his youth. He graduated from George Washington High School, class of '45, and went on to receive his Bachelor's degree from the University of California in 1949 (Go Bears!).
He began his accounting career with a firm in San Mateo, and later signed on as a junior partner of a firm in San Francisco. Eventually, he realized he wanted to be his own boss, and started his own practice. He opened his own shop in the early 60's, later taking on a partner, Martin Segol, who also became a close friend. He continued to work for 64 years, finally putting down the pencils at the age of 86.
Perhaps Stan's greatest legacy was his long career as a coach in youth sports. What started as a tagalong to Gary's first baseball tryout turned into a passion to teach and mentor. He coached baseball for many years, and players throughout the city knew who the Hunt's Donuts team was (I mean, what kid doesn't like donuts). When he felt that the city baseball programs were not inclusive of minority communities, he went into the Bayview and Hunters Point neighborhoods and carpooled those kids to practices and games. When he felt that the hierarchy of City baseball was not receptive of those youngsters, he and associate Roger Bross from the Epiphany parish proposed a new organization which would be inclusive. Thus was born FLAME, which still serves San Francisco youth by sponsoring a variety and sports and other activities.
He was also a longtime basketball coach for his synagogue, Beth Israel Judea, and beyond winning championships, he kept many young men interested in religious school who might have otherwise strayed. He read books on offensive and defensive strategies, drew up his own plays, and always stressed the fundamentals that he learned on the playgrounds and through his own participation in team sports. And oh yeah, donuts after practice.
Beyond all that, he will be most remembered by all as a good guy. Every person who ever played for him referred to him as Mr. Wiener to his dying day, and it was said with great respect. His clients stuck with him from his first day to his last, because they knew his work was unimpeachable, and he would listen to their concerns and preferences. He saw his first baseball game with beloved older brother Herb at Seals Stadium, and lived long enough to sit with his son behind the dugout for every pitch of three Giants championships.
Interment services will be at noon on Monday, October 25, 2021, at Eternal Home Cemetery, 1051 El Camino Real, Colma, CA. All are welcome.
Rest easy, Grampy. We are going to miss the hell out of you.