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ED STOLMAN
Edward R. Stolman was a man who knew how to turn a dream into reality. In health care, historic preservation, lifelong education, and entrepreneurship, Ed Stolman will be remembered for his business acumen, his charm, and his generous spirit. He died Sunday, Dec. 23, at 7:27 a.m. He was 86 years old.
Ed Stolman is gone, but his contributions to society live on – not just in Sonoma and Glen Ellen, but also in the world he inhabited.
A graduate of Northwestern University in 1946, Stolman obtained a degree in international business. Dabbling in many endeavors, he is best known for launching the famous Dove ice cream bar in 1982 in Nashville, Tenn., and as a co-founder of The Olive Press in Glen Ellen in 1995. One of his most recent efforts was the creation of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State University. For that achievement, he was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Sonoma State in 2001. In 2010, he was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, an honorary society of the Business School at Sonoma State University.
Stolman served on the President’s Advisory Council at SSU, on the board of advisors executive committee and on the artistic committee for the Weill Hall at the Green Music Center.
Stolman served as executive vice president and vice chairman of Hospital Affiliates International and is a past president and chairman of the Federation of American Hospitals. He spent many years as a consultant on health care and hospital issues, serving on many charitable boards in the health care industry before coming to Sonoma Valley. In a recent interview, he said that this was one of the most “rewarding” parts of his life.
He is a former board member of the Jewish Museum of San Francisco, and while living in Nashville, Tenn., is credited with saving the historic Merchant’s Hotel from the wrecking ball. He was also instrumental in saving a prominent Victorian house on East Napa Street by purchasing it at public auction, then reselling it. It is currently being restored.
Stolman and his late wife, Carolyn, moved to Sonoma after a visit, proclaiming that it reminded them of Italy, their favorite vacation spot. Unlike other visitors who remained, they did not plant grapes, but olive trees. Starting with 14 trees, their forest grew to more than 1,400 and, after learning the business, Stolman became well known in the world of olive-oil entrepreneurs. He was also on the Olive Oil Advisory Council at U.C. Davis.
Deborah Rogers, a close personal friend, co-founder and business partner with Stolman in The Olive Press, said his passing was not unexpected, “although you’re never really prepared.”
Rogers added, “I have lost a dear friend and longtime business partner. His passion for making olive oil will continue to live on here at The Olive Press. We are all deeply saddened by the loss.”
Details for a memorial service had not been announced at press time. Arrangements are being made by Duggan’s Mission Chapel in Sonoma.
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Eddie was a dear friend for many years. We knew him when we were young entreprenuers and he helped us start a business in the Hermitage Hotel when he was involved with Brock International who owned the hotel. He approached my husband and myself, owners of Mosko's, to open in the hotel, which we did. My husband and I used to house sit for him at his wonderful home in Fernvale, TN when he was married to JoAnn Sherman. He will be missed.
Ed Stoleman was a nice man to be around. One day he walked in my office in Nashville Tn with
Folder of letters written by a confederate soldier he found while renevating what is now the
Merchant restaurant on 4th and Broad downtown Nashville. He was so excited
As was I. Ed was a good man.
Ed was a great neighbor and friend. He would go out of his way to help and teach anyone.Ed was a mentor to me with many stories to tell about his life that not many men,I believe, could accomplish. He once told me about how when one door closes, which i thought was negative, another door opens that can be very positive.
His fish projects and pond landscaping motivated me to raising coy and building some very interesting ponds and waterfalls. He was a great neighbor and will be missed.
Bill Helms
I met Ed at a motorcycle dealership that I worked at the time.
He was in need of an all terrain vehicle to use around his property.
He said his older one was wasn't running and didn't want to spend a lot on a new one, for his limited use,
Ed immediately with his calm demeanor and positive attitude made me feel very comfortable to be around,
So I remembered that he said he lived in Glenn Ellen. I was living in Kenwood at the time(which is about five miles from Glenn Ellen). I said why don't I come by and check out your older quad just to see what's wrong with her before you spend 4000 dollars on a new one? I live just a few miles from you. He said that was a great idea, and the following Sunday I went over to check her out. Turns out all she needed was a carb clean,
and a new air filter. I took off the carb brought it home, cleaned it and installed an air filter that retailed for bout six bucks. I brought the carb and filter and reinstalled it on the quad and she ran great. We went back into his house for a glass of tea it was about 110 degrees in the shed were I was working on the quad. We talked about his time in Texas, The Dove bar, amongst a few other thing's. He asked what he owed for the
work on the quad? I told him that there was no charge(the filter had been sitting on the shelf for two years and my cost was about three bucks) I think he was so impressed that he offered me a job at The Olive Press. That was a few years ago he eventually did buy that new quad, but ended up giving me his old one.
Thanks Ed it was great to have meet such an amazing person.
Heiko Lucker