NCIL Mourns the Loss of Stanley Holbrook

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Stanley Holbrook. Stan passed away last week on Thursday, December 17.

Stan was tireless advocate for disability rights and racial justice, and a longtime leader in the Independent Living Movement. He served on the NCIL Board for 14 years, including serving as the Diversity Chair and being instrumental in the development of NCIL’s diversity initiatives.

Sarah Launderville, NCIL’s President and long-time friend of Stan, said: “Stan was a man of honor. He gave of himself to make our movement stronger and was a trailblazer. He will be missed deeply.”

Until his passing, Stan was the owner of S. A. Holbrook and Associates, a management consulting firm offering organizational development, diversity and inclusion training, strategic planning, and capacity building training. He previously served as President and CEO of Three Rivers CIL in Pittsburgh, Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council, and President of the Pennsylvania Council for Independent Living (PCIL). He also served on the board for the American Society of Aging, was a representative for the Network of Multicultural Agencies (NOMA), and served as a delegate on the White House Conference on Aging. Stan trained and presented widely on the intersections of race and disability, including numerous trainings with NCIL, the IL-NET, ILRU’s Disability, Diversity and Intersectionality program, and presenting at a disability-oriented “Civil Rights in America” event at the White House.

Kelly Buckland, NCIL’s Executive Director, said: “Stan was an incredible leader and just a wonderful human being! Our movement and our society are greatly diminished by his passing. He will definitely be missed!”

Stan’s efforts paved the way for the racial justice and equity work underway in our movement today, and he has continued to both lead the way and mentor the leaders coming up behind him. Stan dedicated his life to making our movement better. The Independent Living community has lost an incredible friend, mentor, and advocate.

Stan will be missed dearly, but his memory will unquestionably live on. And, as a previous Board Member and leader in the Independent Living movement, Stan’s picture will be added to the Wall of Fame in the NCIL office. It was an honor to know him.

We would like to express our deepest condolences to Stan’s family and friends during this difficult time.