Ted Stanley is one of my favorite NR people, ever. He was on our board for a long time. He made a fortune with his Danbury Mint (Connecticut). I enjoyed talking with him about business and economics, in particular. He knew what he was talking about — both theoretically and practically.
He had great esteem for WFB, who esteemed him back. I remember an evening at the Stanleys’ in New Canaan. They lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright house, an unusually large one, Ted told me. He and his wife, Vada – an elegant and sparkling beauty — hosted a dinner in honor of WFB.
Ted was one of the most generous philanthropists in the country. He gave away virtually his entire fortune to medical research. You can read about it in the obituary published in the New York Times on Friday. The Stanleys’ son suffered from a mental disorder; the Stanleys were determined to do something about that, for the world.
I’m so glad I knew Ted. I wish I’d known him better. He was such a gentleman. Modest, unassuming, gracious. And smart and principled.
A researcher is quoted in the Los Angeles Times. He says that Ted flew coach so as to have a little extra to give to science — “when he could have bought the plane.”