Stanley Anthony Yelmokas

A resident of Breckenridge for 24 years, Stan died peacefully in his sleep at Gulf Coast Medical Center, Fort Myers, as a result of complications from covid. Stan packed a lot into his time on earth and was very ready.

A first generation American, Lithuanian was Stan’s first language and he learned to speak English when he went to grammar school. He grew up as part of a large South Boston Lithuanian community – these close friendships continued throughout life, with many of these childhood friends also retiring to the Cape Coral area and maintaining close ties. In his youth, Stan was a member of the Knights of Lithuania and the So. Boston Lithuanian Folk Dance group (he was a great dancer) where he met his wife, Angie. He graduated South Boston High School in 1950 and after military service attended courses at Wentworth Institute. Stan was a veteran of the US Air Force and achieved the rank of Senior Airman, serving in the Korean War.

“Stan the Man” loved a good suntan, and playing horseshoes and handball at the L Street Bathhouse. He was the ultimate social being and jokester, but at times could be Oscar the Grouch, something he readily acknowledged. A great cook, he enjoyed hosting socials from BBQs to elaborate dinner parties. He treasured his visits to Lithuania and time spent with his aunts, uncles and cousins. Stan was a longtime employee of Polaroid and White Fuel where he was active in company sports and activities, and where he made lifelong friends.

Stan was a hard worker. In the early 70’s, Stan and Harry Lewis purchased the grand Falvey mansion at 948 E Broadway, South Boston and restored it over a period of 20 years. They painstakingly worked on “the big house” each day when they came home from their jobs and brought it back to its glory. Next, they relocated to Bridgton, Maine and purchased, renovated and ran the antique Augustus Perley B & B (jokingly known to family as the Complain Inn) for 10 years.

In 1990, after Stan and Harry retired from Polaroid they became Florida snowbirds, first to Cape Coral and then in 2000 to the Breckenridge community in Estero. Here Stan joined the ‘old man’s water volleyball team’ and called bingo, which led to lots of laughs, stories and close friends.

Son of Joseph and Mary (Yankauskas) Yelmokas, he was born and lived in South Boston, MA for the first 58 years of his life. He was predeceased in 1971 by his loving wife Angelina Ann (Masionis) Yelmokas, sister Mary Ann (Yelmokas) Church (2000) of Reno, NV, and brother John Gregory Yelmokas (2013) of Braintree, MA.

Surviving are his children, Drs. Ann Marie Yelmokas (Jay) McDermott, Provincetown, MA; John Joseph Yelmokas, Brewster, MA; and Mark Edward (Donna) Yelmokas San Francisco, CA; brothers Peter Yelmokas (Boston) and Anthony Yelmokas (Braintree); Masionis nieces - Irene Meaney, Dianne St. Ours, Marilyn Regolino; Yelmokas nephews - Kevin and David Yelmokas; Church nieces - Valerie Morehouse, Victoria Church, Sabrina Darrough, Rachel Church Merhtens, and Church nephews - David, John and Luke Church. Also, cousins in Lithuania and the US; and dear friend and small business partner Harry Lewis.

The ultimate host, Stan specified there be no memorial service, but would rather host two parties – a celebratory meal at one of his favorite restaurants in season when his snow bird friends return to Estero, and a traditional Lithuanian luncheon at the South Boston Lithuanian Club in the Fall of 2024. Dates to be determined.

Graveside service and interment – Dates to be determined for Fall 2024. Stan will be buried with his wife Angelina at New Calvary Cemetery, Mattapan, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.