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Stanley Greenwood, Jr., 73, of Boston, Massachusetts, passed away on March 22, 2024, from complications associated with cancer and several strokes.
Stanley was born on February 15, 1951, to Stanley and Margaret (Stevenson) Greenwood in Lawrence, Massachusetts. After graduating from Lawrence High School, Stanley earned a Bachelor of Science from New York University, a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisville, a Master of Science in Taxation from Bentley University, and a Diploma in Financial Planning from Boston University.
Stanley served as an active duty officer in the United States Army, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, in Fort Knox, Kentucky, from 1976 to 1980, where he practiced federal labor law and procurement law. From 1978 to 1980 he was Chief of the Legal Assistance Office, where he managed an office of 10 Judge Advocates providing legal services to soldiers on all aspects of civil law.
He served in the United States Army Reserve in Boston, Massachusetts, where he commanded the 3rd Legal Support Organization, a unit with 45 Judge Advocate officers and over 20 enlisted soldiers, from 1980 to 2006. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2000.
Stanley worked as an attorney for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue from 1981 to 2022. Starting at the Estate Tax Bureau, he later became Chief of Estate Tax Audit, where he managed a large staff of attorneys, paralegals, and clerical employees. In 2001 he moved to the Rulings and Regulations Bureau, where he remained until retirement. In that position he was the “go to” person for advice on estate tax matters, where his expertise, and friendship, will be sorely missed.
Stanley was a great lover of classical music and theater. He regularly attended the Boston Symphony, and frequented theater venues in Boston on a weekly basis. He periodically traveled to New York City, where he would sometimes attend a dozen shows in a single week, including musicals, straight theater, and the Metropolitan Opera. He was a regular guest at the Washington Square Hotel, where he was always given the same room overlooking Washington Square Park.
He was also attentive to his Irish heritage, and became a major supporter and member of the Advisory Board of the Glucksman Ireland House, New York University’s center for the study of Ireland and the Irish diaspora. He was also a member of the Boston Athenaeum and regularly attended lectures there.
Stanley was thoughtful and loyal to his many friends from childhood, the Army, the Department of Revenue, his neighborhood, and his cancer support groups. He was generous, an optimist, and a realist. He had a remarkable memory, and would ask after his friends’ family members by name. He sent scores of cards on major and minor holidays, and scores of fruitcakes at Christmas.
Stanley was particular and discriminating in his work, in the decoration of his exquisite apartment on Commonwealth Avenue, in his ties and shoes, in his monogramed shirts and towels, in the flavoring of his coffee, and in a dozen other ways. He used to joke “it isn’t easy being Stanley Greenwood.” His many friends and loved ones will now say “it isn’t easy being without Stanley Greenwood.”
He was a devoted son and tireless caregiver to his mother Margaret for the last nine years of her life. Rose Donohoe came to help care for Margaret, and through that shared experience Rose grew to be Stanley’s loving friend, and her family his second family. After his strokes in June of 2022, Rose became Stanley’s primary caregiver. Rose, his close friend and neighbor Eileen Bagley, and his friend and colleague Brett Goldberg, have been Stanley’s rock and mainstay throughout the last 22 months, and for that his many friends are deeply grateful.
While hospitalized, Stanley received the thoughtful care of doctors, nurses and therapists at Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, who deserve our gratitude and thanks. Stanley’s home health care was outstanding, thanks to Rose and aides provided through Celtic Angels, Inc., including Josephine Connelly, Corrine Kyebiriungi, Marie Telusma, Marjorie Brown Hinds, and Nicole Neita. Stanley suffered from cancer for many years prior to his strokes. He nevertheless led a full and robust life thanks to the exceptional medical care of Dr. Danny Chin, Dr. David Kuter, and Dr. Philip Saylor, all of Massachusetts General Hospital.
Stanley was predeceased by his parents and by his beloved spouse, James W. Downey. He is survived by his sister Susan Mary Polizzotti, and his nephew Kyle A. Polizzotti and wife Nicole.
Family and friends may call on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre Street, West Roxbury. Funeral from the funeral home on Thursday, April 4, at 9:00 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am, at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church, 2078 Centre Street, West Roxbury. To live stream the Funeral Mass, go to www.sttheresaparishboston.com. Burial will follow in the Willow Pond Knoll section of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.
Floral tributes should be delivered to the Gormley Funeral Home before noon on Wednesday, April 3. Donations may be made to AccentCare Inpatient Hospice Center, 597 Randolph Avenue, Milton, 02186, where Stanley received loving care and kindness in his last days.