NORTH PACIFIC BEACH – Hubert “Stutz” Sturtevant recently celebrated a remarkable milestone, turning a full century old on August 27 at Ivy Park at La Jolla, a senior living facility that offers assisted living and memory care services.
Sturtevant, affectionately nicknamed “Stutz” after a luxury car brand, credited his sobriety as a contributing factor to his longevity.
When asked about the key to a fulfilling life, he humorously replied, “Breathing. It’s worked for me,” which brought smiles and applause from the gathering, including a local television crew documenting the occasion.
An accomplished aerospace engineer, Stutz played a significant role in the Atlas program, recognized as America’s first intercontinental ballistic missile and an essential part of the U.S. space program.
Born into a large family as one of seven children, his career spanned many years beyond his service in the Navy.
During the celebration, surrounded by family and friends, Stutz shared memories, engaged in storytelling, and answered questions about reaching age 100.
His wife, Ellen, whom he married in 1948 and who passed away in 2012, was a pivotal figure in his life.
Stutz’s eldest son, Peter, reminisced about their courtship, explaining, “They only dated for about six weeks, though they knew each other longer. He was only in town about six weeks before they got married.”
Reflecting on their wedding day, Stutz mentioned, “That was the end of my course at the Naval Station on 32nd Street,” highlighting how the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the iconic U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.
“I was involved in the Atlas program testing equipment,” Stutz shared about his engineering career, giving insight into his professional life.
According to his daughter, when the children were young, Stutz often playfully avoided questions about his work, responding, “Oh, can’t talk about that, that’s top secret.”
Peter added, “They used to test the rocket engines out in eastern San Diego. From where we lived 10 miles away, we could hear the roar of those rockets in the late ’50s. It was a pretty big deal.”
Stutz’s journey in the aerospace industry brought him and his family from New Jersey to San Diego, a transition that Peter noted as the most significant change in their lives.
On the topic of happiness, Stutz stated, “I found it in sobriety. I haven’t had a drink in well over 30 years. That’s where I found my happiness. When I gave up drinking, that was a high point for me.”
Stutz is a father to seven children, six of whom are alive and continuing his legacy.
Fondly remembering Ellen, he described her as a lovely person who cared deeply for others and expressed gratitude for their happy marriage, sharing, “She always seemed to think about other people. It was a happy marriage.”
Peter recalled his mother’s exceptional ability to manage their household, recalling how she could feed the family for just $20 a month, showcasing her great cooking skills.
Stutz’s character and dedication as a father were also highlighted in Peter’s reflections. He remarked, “The proudest thing, and we heard a lot about it as kids, was his going through the Naval Academy and being a Naval officer in the late ’40s.”
Peter shared a heartfelt perspective on his father, stating, “I never even gave it a thought anybody could ever have anything other than a wonderful father.
It wasn’t until I was in my mid-40s when I was stunned to hear any number of men who had unhappy experiences with their dads, for one reason or another.”
He expressed his gratitude, emphasizing, “I was just stunned because my dad was everything a kid could want to have as far as encouragement and support. That’s how good my dad has been all of my life.”
image source from：timesofsandiego
