SIROTA, Albert Stanley (Stan)

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ Sunday, September 1, 2013 Stanley Sirota passed away on August 25, 2013 at their home with his beloved wife by his side. Albert Stanley Sirota was born August 31, 1931 in Kankakee, Illinois, he married his high school sweatheart, Jane Giguere on December 23rd, 1950. Stan joined the Untited States Navy the same year and attended Corpsman Training at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois. Stan's military service included serving on several ships in the Far East, combat corpsman in the United states Marines, and serving as medical staff at Yokosuka Naval Hospital in Japan. Stan's service to our country totaled 38 months. Upon honorable discharge from the United States Navy, Stan attended the College of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois. Stan graduated in 1959 and subsequently owned and operated two drug stores in the Chicago suburbs. In August of 1970, Stan and their five sons moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and Phoenix. Stan's professional career in Arizona included serving as President of United Drugs; Stan served as Treasure of the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy. Stan had a passion for helping people with chemical dependency issues and served six years on the board of directors at the New Arizona Family Residential Drug Treatment Program along with being actively involved in several other local residential and outpatient chemical dependency programs. In addition to Stan's passion for assisting the general public. Stan anonymously aided members of his own profession. Stan assisted impaired pharmacist by finding treatment programs for them, expediting the admission process and facilitating the logistics of all that involved in locating treatment and obtaining that much needed treatment. As a result of Stan'e dedication, many of these pharmacists were allowed to retain their pharmacy license contingent upon completion of their rehabilitation program. After serving his fellow professional anonymously for nine years, the outreach eventually evolved into the program "PAPA", which is an acronym for Pharmacists Assisting Pharmacists of Arizona. As Stan's beloved pharmacy career continued, he received several awards, honors and accolades. Stan was a Pharmacist of the Year, Stan was honored with the Bowl of Hygeia Award for public service and Stan was the oldest practicing pharmacist in Arizona. The last six years of Stan's Pharmacy career was practicing as a pharmacist at the Mayo Clinic Outpatient Pharmacy in Scottsdale, Arizona. Stan formed close relationships and attachments with the entire Mayo Clinic Pharmacy staff that proved to be deep, close and dearly loved friends during his extended battle with cancer. Stan is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years Jean; their four sons Scott (Kim), Mark (Rita), Kent and Brad (Esther); Stan and Jean's eldest son Stephen (Tracy) passed on to be with our Lord March 16, 2011. Stan is survived by 15 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, additional survivors include a brother Gary Billings and a sister Betty Decker in Illinois. Stan will be remembered for his sense of humor and his ability to always have a joke ready on any subject for any occasion. Stan was known for his dedication to his wife and to their children and his dedication to the profession of pharmacy while serving the public. The celebration of Stan's life will be held on Saturday, September 7th at 1:00PM at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, 9590 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Highway Christian Hospice, 67 E. Weldon Avenue, Suite 317, Phoenix, Arizona or Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church.