Albert William Stott Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Albert William Stott, Jr. transitioned this life to Life Eternal on July 22 as a result of complications due to pneumonia. He is survived by his younger brother, Ronald C. Stott, daughter, Kimberly E. Stott, son, Albert W. Stott III (Bill) and Bill’s wife, Kara E. Stott, granddaughter Madison E. Stott, and grandson Austin W. Stott. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Ayako Katayama, and his true life partner, Anne Grignon. Al is pre-deceased by his father, Albert W. Stott, mother Irene H. Stott (Roth), older brother, Richard R. Stott, and Al’s first wife, Deborah E. Stott.

Al was born January 3, 1939 in Germantown, Philadelphia, attended General Louis Wagner High School, and graduated from Central High School. He attended Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA where he was Class Secretary for all four years, played center and right tackle on the football team, and was also a member and officer of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Al graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with minors in Education and Psychology. Three months after graduation, Al and his fiancé, Deborah, a recent graduate of Hood College, were united in marriage.

Al went on to study the ordained ministry at The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Debbie taught Home Economics at Central Bucks High School, and Al worked as a Fuller Brush Man while attending Seminary. Upon the birth of their first child, Kimberly, Al and Debbie took a position as resident caretakers for the Midway Volunteer Fire Company in Lahaska, PA and became dispatchers for the Buckingham Township, New Hope and Washington’s Crossing police agencies.

While in seminary, Al joined the US Naval Reserve as an Ensign. Upon graduation, Al accepted a commission as a Lt. Junior Grade in the US Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps. Simultaneously, he was called to be the Assistant Pastor at Atonement Lutheran Church, Wyomissing, PA, a position he held while attending weekly drills at the Navy / Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in Reading, PA. Al’s son, Bill, was born during this time. Al was subsequently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. After serving the congregation for 3 years, he accepted a 3-year active duty assignment with the US Navy beginning in June 1966. His first duty assignment was Squadron Chaplain, Destroyer Squadron Five, San Diego, CA. Al was deployed with Squadron Five in the combat zone in Vietnam from Oct. 1967 – April 1968. His subsequent tour was at Naval Air Station North Island, where Al was promoted to Lt. Commander and was augmented into the regular Navy. Al earned a master’s degree in leadership & Human Behavior from United States International University during this time. Al subsequently received orders to return to the Vietnam War as Chaplain, US Naval Construction Battalion Unit 302 (Seabees) in the Saigon region. Al provided spiritual support to nineteen Seabee and river patrol (Swift Boats) units during his one-year in-country tour.

Al subsequently received orders to US Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia, where he served as Chaplain to the US Marines Basic School, as well as the FBI Academy and National Police Academy. Al’s wife, Debbie, passed away suddenly in 1975. This was a devastating loss for Al and his young children to lose their dear wife and mother. Al remained a single parent, caring for his children while remaining on active duty in the USN for the following 10 years.

Al was assigned to Norfolk, Virginia, where he was promoted to Commander in 1976 while serving sea duty with the Atlantic Fleet Religious Support Activity. Al also earned his Doctor of Ministry (Dmin) from McCormick Theological Seminary during this time. Al’s subsequent assignments in Virginia were Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek and CREEDO, Norfolk, where he was promoted to rank of Captain. Al was then assigned to the role of Command Chaplain, for US Naval Forces, Yokosuka, Japan, with a subsequent tour in Port Hueneme, CA as Command Chaplain for the Naval Construction Battalion Center. Al married Ayako Katayama, and returned to Japan subsequently to serve another tour in his prior capacity. After 30 years of distinguished service, Al retired from the Navy in October 1992.

One of Al’s favorite sayings was ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss’, which characterizes his next chapter in his life: Executive Director at Tokyo English Lifeline in Japan, and then a move back to San Diego to pursue full-time studies and ultimately graduating from USIU with a PhD in Psychology. Al subsequently became a faculty member at University of Phoenix at multiple campuses in California, while providing counseling at the New Life Counseling Center in San Diego. Al also served as interim pastor at a number of Lutheran congregations in San Diego and was licensed to serve as interim pastor by the Episcopal Diocese at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Chula Vista, for a number of years. Al loved serving the congregations at St. John’s Episcopal and Resurrection Lutheran Churches, and ultimately considered St. John’s as his home church. It is indeed fitting that a man who energetically served communities of all faiths across the world as a Naval Chaplain for 30 years, found his final home with a church not of his original denomination.

While Al’s titles, credentials, degrees, medals, ribbons, certificates, commendations, awards, duty assignments, and ultimate contributions to this world have been immeasurable by any standard, we choose to think of him in his most impactful capacities of all: dad, grandpa, and true love. Al took great pride and joy in the lives and successes of his children and grandchildren. He dearly loved us and his life-partner and true love, Anne, until his final breaths in this world. We are deeply saddened by his sudden illness and passing, and will miss him and remember him for all days to come. Dad loved to share the Irish blessing as the benediction at his services, and it has become a family favorite: ‘May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand’. Amen