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Paul Stambach papers, 1961-2014

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: SC-47

Scope and Contents

This collection includes the "H" Book of Hobart College, Inter-fraternity Council's Rushing Handbook, Commemcement program for 1969, Hobart letter certificates, Kappa Sigma fraternity certificate, issue of "Gleek," football scrapbooks and photographs, football game programs, newspaper articles, an issue of the Hobart and William Smith Quarterly, and greeting cards.

Dates

  • 1961-2014
  • Majority of material found within 1961-1969

Creator

Biographical Note

Paul Stambach was born in Clifton Springs, NY on May 19, 1947 to William and Mary Stambach. He grew up in Shortsville, NY and attended Red Jacket Central High School from 1961-1965, located in Manchester, NY at the time. While in high school Stambach earned six varsity letters in football and track and field. He also played the clarinet and sang in the chorus, making All-county in both band and chorus on several occasions. Stambach participated in student council and was elected vice president during his senior year. Hobart College became interested in Paul because of his football skills, his extracurricular activities, and because he was a local student.



Stambach attended Hobart College from 1965 to 1969. He played football at an All East and All-Conference level and participated in track and field, holding the shot-put record for a time. He was initiated into the Kappa Sigma fraternity, served as a residence hall proctor for two years, and was Resident Director of Superdorm (Jackson, Potter, and Rees Halls) in 1968.



After graduation Paul tried to make it in the NFL with a tryout with the Harrisburg Capital-Colts, a farm club of the Baltimore Colts. He played in two preseason games but did not make the team. He then spent several months in New York City working on Madison Avenue. Disenchanted and a little intimidated with the Big Apple, Stambach returned home to Shortsville and poured steel in a local foundry while pondering his options. In the autumn of 1970, he went to graduate school at SUNY Albany where he recieved an M.A. in American History. While at SUNY Albany Paul was a graduate intern coaching football and lacrosse. This brought him back to Hobart College's Boswell Field for the 1971 North/South game where SUNY Albany recieved the Championship trophy for the lacrosse season during halftime. Following graduate school, Stambach went on to teach at the Keene Valley High School in the Adirondacks. He was the entire social studies department, teaching grades 7-12. The school's 1973 yearbook was dedicated to him by the senior class.



In the summer of 1973 he married his first wife and started a career with New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) after having worked on railroad construction and as a stevedore at the Port of Albany, NY. At OPRHP, he managed 18th century historic sites including Fort Crailo in Rensselaer, NY and Schuyler Mansion in Albany, NY. While in this position Stambach conducted research on the Van Rensselaer/Schuyler families resulting in several museum exhibits, audio/visual programs, a book, and some articles. As his career progressed he became the Agency Safety Director, the Director of Staff Development and Employee Training, and served as a Labor Relations Representative.



In 1982 Paul married his second wife, Cynthia Schmit of Colonie, NY. They have two daughters, Betsy, a high school music teacher at South Glens Falls High School and Abby, a librarian/archivist at the Russell Sage Colleges. He retired from Parks in 2002 and has since been substituting as a social studies teacher, volunteering as a middle school football coach, and serving on the Friends' Boards for the historic sites he managed while working for Parks. He also volunteers for the New York State Military Museum, serves on the town of Clifton Park's Historic Preservation Commission, works with the town library staff on emergency action plans, and provides day care for his grandchildren. He still returns to the Hobart College campus for reunions and for football games, to see his great nephew Steven Webb play.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Location

Box 1: Archives Storage, Range 22A, Section 6



Box 2: Archives Office, Section 7

Provenance

These papers were donated to the Archives and Special Collections by Paul Stambach in June 2014. Some of the materials had been kept by his mother during his time at Hobart College and afterwards.

Separated Materials

Copies of the yearbook the Echo of the Seneca and Echo and Pine for the years 1931, 1966, 1967, and 1969 have been removed to the duplicate yearbook collection.

Title
Paul Stambach papers, 1961-2014
Status
Completed
Author
Martha Clark
Date
September 2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Warren Hunting Smith Library
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Geneva New York 14456 U.S.A. US (United States)