Late Caldwell Expert Helped Safeguard NJ Workplaces

CALDWELL, NJ — George Basil Stanton Jr., a prominent safety and health expert who worked out of Caldwell for more than two decades, died last week at the age of 93.

The following obituary comes via the Codey & Jones Funeral Home.

George Basil Stanton, Jr. -- a leader in the occupational safety and health community and in political and philanthropic organizations -- has passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at the age of 93.

In 1979, he founded American Hazard Control Consultants, Inc. (AHCCI), which provided expert guidance and testimony in hundreds of occupational injury cases over the course of over 30 years. He published numerous articles on health and safety, including studies of hazardous chemicals and toxic substances.

He was the first Borough Chemical Engineer of both Lodi and Lyndhurst (New Jersey), working closely with industrial plant operators and town officials to assure compliance with safety and health regulations.

Stanton was a founding member and the first President of the Essex Fells Education Foundation for Educational Excellence, which has raised over $1 million in donations for Essex Fells School -- located just a block from his home on Park Lane. He also served on the town’s Board of Education and was active in the local Republican Party for many years, winning election as County Committeeman and volunteering for numerous local and national candidates.

In 1977, Stanton became one of the first instructors in New York University’s Center for Occupational Health and Safety program, teaching graduate courses on industrial hygiene and other topics until 1984. He was also an instructor at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) for nearly 20 years and spoke as a guest lecturer at many universities.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1926, Stanton grew up a block away from Prospect Park and was anavid Brooklyn Dodgers fan. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic College at the age of 19. Stanton went on to earn three Master’s degrees -- in Chemical Engineering (Brooklyn Polytechnic, 1948), Business Administration (NYU, 1971), and Safety & Health (NYU, 1977) -- and also possessed numerous industry certifications.

Stanton began his career at Arvey Corp. in Jersey City in 1948, then moved on three years later to Rubber & Asbestos Corp. (R&A) in Bloomfield. There he served as an Export Sales lead, Technical Service Manager, and finally Manager of the Plymaster Department, where he oversaw a 48-person plant for manufacturing film adhesives used in printed circuits -- essential for a variety of home electronics. In 1959, he traveled to Japan on behalf of R&A, advising Sony engineers in their use of the company’s products in early portable tape recorders and other devices.

Stanton also held management roles in product development and sales at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. (PPG) and Jacob’s Engineering. In 1971, he transitioned to a career in industrial hygiene, joining the recently established Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as New Jersey’s Chief of Occupational Health-- a role he held for four years.

Stanton set up his own safety practice in 1974, after earning the title of Certified Safety Professional, and started his career as a consulting engineer and expert witness. At around the same time, he began serving as Lodi’s chemical engineer, with a street-level office near the town’s Borough Hall. He later moved to a second-floor suite at 354 Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell, where he worked every day until his reluctant retirement in 2012.

As a boy and young man in Brooklyn, Stanton was an avid Boy Scout, rising to the rank of Scoutmaster. He also served in the Army reserves for 10 years. He was an active member of many industry organizations, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) -- where he chaired the New Jersey section -- the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which awarded him its Centennial Medal in 1980. He was selected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health in 1975 and appeared in several editions of “Who’s Who in the World” and “Who’s Who in Engineering.”

Stanton’s parents -- George B. Stanton, Sr., and Despina Stanton (nee Tsivoglou) -- came to the United States in the early 1920s, passing through Ellis Island and weathering the hardships of the Great Depression to achieve comfort and success.

Stanton was a longtime member of Caldwell United Methodist Church, where he served as Council Chairman. He was actively involved in local churches throughout his adult life and served at a Billy Graham crusade. He was gentle, generous, and highly ethical, with a deep, room-clearing laugh and a warm, sometimes mischievous smile.

Stanton was happily married for 34 years to Janet Stanton (nee Pohlman), who loved him with great tenderness and cared for him tirelessly. Earlier, he was married to Jane Stanton (nee Mansfield), a pianist and educator. He had three children/stepchildren (David Stanton, Linda Schreck, and Donald Pohlman), six grandchildren (John Andrew Schreck, Timothy Schreck, Sara Stanton, Philip Schreck, Christopher Stanton, and David Schreck), and six great grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be sent to Caldwell United Methodist Church, 8 Academy Road, Caldwell NJ.

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