Dale L. Stahl passed away on Nov. 11, 2022. He was 85.

Dale worked for Sun Chemical for more than 31 years as Midwest regional sales manager, and after that, he worked part-time for General Press Colors. He was a member of the Chicago Printing Ink Production Club, where he partnered with Bruce McIntosh for many years to run the CPIPC Christmas Party. He was also a member of Des Plaines Elks Lodge 1526.

His colleagues at Sun Chemical remember Dale as a great salesman and an even better human being.

William McDermott remembered Dale as a tremendous person and a superb salesman.

“Dale was a consummate sales professional who could sell screen doors for submarines,” McDermott said. “This was highlighted by the very moving eulogy by his three sons during his funeral service. Each son shared a story of Dale’s passion for business and sales as he coached his sons from an early age to start a business, ostensibly to avoid paying them an allowance as it was pointed out by the boys.

“While very emotional, it was humorous how each told of business proposals from washing windows to selling melons at a farmers’ market,” McDermott added. “While these efforts were to develop business acumen, it was very clear it was more about the loving relationship within his family. Dale’s love of life and relationships is very apparent to all those who knew him. Once you knew Dale, he was a friend for life.”

Christopher Allen, global key account manager for Sun Chemical Performance Pigments, said that Dale was the consummate professional salesman for Sun Chemical.

“He was truly old school, building the best relationships through his humor and his personality, always finding things about what makes people tick, and then exploiting that for a laugh or a good-hearted ribbing,” Allen said.

“When I first met Dale, it was in the parking lot of Bowers Printing Ink on Irving Park Road in Chicago in the mid 1980s,” Allen continued. “I was making one of my first solo sales calls and was a little nervous. He was just finishing his call and we met in the parking lot as I was approaching the building. To be sure I wasn’t another pigment supplier, he started quizzing me up and down about who I was and who I worked for. Within minutes, he had me laughing and immediately put me at ease.

“Anyone who knew Dale, knew that was him……always quick with a joke even if it was at your expense, but never mean spirited,” Allen added. “To say he always had a positive outlook was an understatement. He was truly a professional in so many ways and will be missed by all of us who knew and worked alongside him.”

Luigi Ribaudo, sales manager for IGM Resins USA, spoke about Dale’s love of life.

“He was big on hot dogs. I remember the first time he invited me out to lunch when I worked at Graphic Color, he didn’t tell me where we were going, just that he wanted to buy me lunch since I was such a good customer and that I would love the place,” Ribaudo said. “We pulled up to some mom and pop hot dog stand, and every meal since then was either a hot dog or maybe a pulled BBQ pork sandwich, mostly hot dogs. He also loved fishing and of course golfing.”

Edward Polaski first met Dale when Polaski joined Sun Chemical Pigments Division in June 1977.

“Dale Stahl was my first boss, district sales manager – Chicago,” Polaski recalled. “What can I say? He taught me the valuable lessons of customer relationships and customer service which served me well for the next 44 years. All I can say is that I am proud to have known Dale, worked with him for many years, and can include him in my life as a friend.”

Andy Grabacki and Rick Kuebel remembered the good times they had working with Dale at General Press Colors.

“Dale was always positive and had an amazing rapport with customers,” Grabacki said. “We would travel to a particular account where we would have to spend hours in the car together. We knew that we were not going to get anywhere with the customer but Dale, always positive, would say ‘well we have to get there to get the company newspaper for the trip back.’ He would read it to me as drove back, especially highlighting the items employees were advertising to sell. Lots of laughs.”

“He loved to travel,” Grabacki added. “He and Sonya would take a couple of cruises a year, all over the world. I couldn’t wait to hear his stories, it was always an adventure.”

“Dale worked for many years for Sun Chemical and then worked part time for General Press Colors Ltd. after he retired from Sun,” Kuebel said. “Dale was a great guy and had a magnetic personality. It was always good to see him and he would be joking around and made everyone laugh. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.”

Dale is survived by Lera Sonya, his wife of 61 years; three children, Greg, Todd and Jeffrey; four grandchildren, Zachary, Perri, Ashley and Erin; and one brother, Bob