Stanley Earl Goldstein, who had a distinguished law practice for almost 50 years, and who was a jazz musician, teacher, handball champion and a member of the St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, died Monday, June 19, 2010, of lung cancer, at Delmar Gardens West Nursing Center in Town and Country. He was 75. 

Mr. Goldstein’s legal practice included an extensive private practice and a stint as the director of the Juvenile Justice Division of Legal Aid Society of St. Louis, which is now Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.

Mr. Goldstein often took on indigent cases on a pro bono basis, and frequently represented clients whom he thought were being treated unjustly.

“Stanley Goldstein was an amazing, all-around man,” said longtime friend Marvin Plattner. “He was a terrific lawyer who represented worthy clients regardless of their means and also was such a superb athlete that he was inducted in the Jewish Community Center’s Sports Hall of Fame. If that were not enough, he was an outstanding jazz musician.”

Among the landmark cases in which Mr. Goldstein was involved was his representation of James Millstone, then the managing editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Millstone had been denied automobile insurance based on false information reported to a credit-reporting firm. Mr. Goldstein was successful in representing Millstone, who was awarded $40,000 in a pioneering case involving the rights of consumers to challenge erroneous and damaging reports.

Mr. Goldstein, who received his undergraduate and law degrees from Washington University, taught criminal procedure at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for several years. He served as an Olivette Municipal Judge for 13 years.

Mr. Goldstein was an accomplished jazz pianist who performed for many years at area restaurants and hotels.

Mr. Goldstein’s induction into the St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) was based on his accomplishments as a lifelong athlete. He was twice a collegiate handball champion. He won numerous tournaments in handball, table tennis and bowling leagues operated by various lawyers associations and by the JCC.

Mr. Goldstein is survived by his wife, Nancy Leve Goldstein; two sons, William Goldstein of Olivette and Jonathan Goldstein of University City; a daughter, Elizabeth Sindman of Olivette; a sister, Suzanne Broddon of Clayton; and seven grandchildren.

A funeral service was held Tuesday at Shaare Zedek Synagogue in University City, followed by burial at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 7550 Olive Boulevard.

Donations in Mr. Goldstein’s honor may be made to the American Lung Association.