Ludwig "Lou" F. Stonitsch, Jr. passed away at the age of 84 on December 28, 2024. He is survived by his loving wife, Elfriede "Ellie" Stiene Stonitsch; his daughter, Kathryn Marous and her husband, Dan; his son Adam Stonitsch and his wife, Catherine; and his grandchildren Peter, Lucy and Teddy. He is also survived by his brother, Frank Stonitsch (Josephine), in-laws, nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his parents Ludwig Stonitsch, Sr. and Anna Verderber Stonitsch and a granddaughter, Julia Marous.

Lou was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the Glendale section of Queens, NY. Lou 's first language was the Gottscheerisch dialect, and he learned English upon entering grammar school. At the time of his death, he was one of only a few hundred remaining fluent speakers of this medieval Germanic language which is indigenous to the linguistic isle called Gottschee in Slovenia. He was an early President of the Gottscheer Country Club in Walden, New York, where he and Ellie retired.

Lou was a proud graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School. He was a first-generation college student at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

He worked his entire professional life for the New York City Transit Authority where he had many friends and lunches in downtown Brooklyn.

Although he never recovered from the Brooklyn Dodgers leaving Ebbets Field, he remained a lifelong baseball fan. His fantasy baseball team, the Kioodles, predated the internet and he participated through the 2024 season.

Lou was accomplished at playing pinochle and dancing polkas, both of which he did up until the end of his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to https://secure.childrenshospital.org/site/Donation2?df_id=7025&7025.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T in Lou's memory.