Stanley T. Gabis, 85, Was Political Science Professor

Stanley T. Gabis died peacefully at Windemere on Tuesday morning, Dec. 28 following an extended illness. He was 85.

Known for his pride in his family, his interest in Island issues, and the intellect and scholarship of his discourse, Mr. Gabis was a member of the faculty of University of Missouri where he was a professor of political science until his retirement in 1984. It was then that he and his wife, Danguole (Danga) Gabis, moved to the Vineyard where they had summered for years, and where his mother, Rachel Gabis lived.

Kind, soft-spoken, with a dry sense of humor and ready wit, Mr. Gabis especially enjoyed reading and perusing the Island libraries, listening to classical music, and walking the beach near his West Tisbury home on Lambert's Cove with the family dog, Hector. He regularly engaged friends in animated and philosophical conversations, and often served as moderator of the weekly West Tisbury Conversation Group.

Mr. Gabis interrupted his master's degree studies at the University of Chicago to enlist in the Air Force in World War II, where he served in Italy. He was honorably discharged with the rank of captain, then returned to Chicago to earn his master's and Ph. D. degrees in political science, working under the renown political scholar, Leo Strauss.

Born Jan. 3, 1919, Mr. Gabis is the son of the late Harry and Rachel Gabis, and brother of the late Melvin Gabis of Philadelphia. He is survived by his wife Danguole, daughters Vovere Hessen of Houston, Texas, and Rita Gabis of New York city, son David Gabis of Boston, and sister Shirley Perle of New York city.

There will be a memorial service in Chilmark at Abel's Hill cemetery on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 11 a.m., where Mr. Gabis's ashes will be interred.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard in his memory.