Stanley A. Darrow

On March 12, 2018, Age 87, of Westmont, NJ.

Beloved husband of Joanna (Nee Arnold) and the late Sherrie R. (Nee Reisser). Loving father of Anthony Darrow (Marion) of Mullica Hill, David Darrow (Kathy) of Oaklyn, NJ and Elissa Darrow of Pitman, NJ. Dear brother of the late Elaine Pierznik.  Proud grandfather of Courtney, Brit, Blaise, Gwen, Daniel, Noah, Grace, Jesse, Lindsay, Katelyn and Brenna.  Also survived by many brothers & sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Stanley Darrow was born in Camden, New Jersey the 16th of March, 1930.  He attended St. Joseph's Polish Catholic School going on to graduate from Camden High School. Stan attended New York City Collegethen joined the National Guard in 1948. In 1953 he served in the US Army (101 ^st Airborne Division) in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where it was his desire to become a test pilot. Following his honorable discharge in 1955, he became part of the US Army Reserve until 1961. Stan’s grandfather played the accordion, fascinated with the instrument Stan began studying seriously with local professionals. When he was sixteen he attended the Accordionists and Teachers Guild annual convention where both he and a young Myron Floren became members; he also joined the American Accordionists Association. At the age of eighteen he began teaching for the Acme Accordion Company and working for Accordion World magazine in New York. In 1948 Stan founded Acme Accordion School in Camden, New Jersey. He met Sherrie Reisser, they were married in 1953 and moved Acme Accordion School to Westmont, New Jersey. Sherrie and Stanley had three children together, Anthony (1958), David (1963), and Elissa (1969). He enjoyed taking his family on annual trips to Harpers Ferry, Lurray and Williamsburg, Virginia. His first European Concert Tour in 1963 brought many opportunities. Stan studied with Frau Braun, Rudolf Wurthner, and Karl Parenthaler at theHohner Konservatorium, Trossingen, Germany. These new associations helped Stan to impact American accordion education and music while heralding original accordion literature and the German style of bellow control. 1971 to 2016 Stanley performed as a musical duo with Joanna Darrow (nee Arnold). The duo became husband in wife in 2002. Stan always championed the education of the public in regards to the concert abilities of the accordion by performing internationally annually throughout Europe. He adjudicated at the Klingethal and Castelfidardo World Cup Competitions, recorded for Radio Paris, Reykjavik, Stuttgart and many others. He performed at the summit for the Russian and French presidents in Paris and also lays claim to the Kaibala LP Series and 8 LPs recorded in Holland and the USA. He gave lectures worldwide. Stan Darrow was founder of Tri State Accordion Association, the Arcari Foundation, New Jersey Accordion Teachers Association, American Accordion Musicological Society, and NuArts Press. He served on the Board of Director for AAA (AAA Man of the Year 1971), ATG (2008 President’s Award also Historian until his death), Tri-State Accordion Association, and American Accordion Musicological Society (AAMS).

Stanley Darrow had a flair for beloved things. Beside the accordion he enjoyed working on his vintage cars, collecting Lincoln Continentals and, of course, VW Vans; Stan had a passion for Volkswagens. He also had an avid love for the American Civil War and World War II history.

Relatives & friends are invited to attend his visitation Friday, March 23 ^rd from 7 to 9 PM at JACKSON FUNERAL HOME, 308 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township, NJ, and on Saturday from 10 to 11 AM, where his funeral service will follow at 11 AM.

Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stan’s memory may be made to American Accordion Musicological Society, 322 Haddon Avenue, Westmont, NJ 08108 or The Angels Community Outreach, 334 S. Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071 or  at www.theangelscommunityoutreach.org

Arrangements by Jackson Funeral Home, Haddon Township, NJ www.jacksonfh.net