An American Life

By Jill Duff-Hoppes

Marshall L. Stoltz’s fascination with Norman Rockwell started simply enough – when, as a kid, he received a picture illustrated by the iconic artist. The image, of Boy Scouts on a hike, sparked a lifelong love of all things Rockwell.'

Marshall, now an 85-year-old resident of Winter Springs, eventually met the artist and developed a friendship with him. What’s more, he opened a museum dedicated to the beloved illustrator and traveled the world giving speeches about Rockwell and his work.

“People ask me, ‘What kind of a man was he, really?” says Marshall, who lives at The Watermark at Vistawilla, a senior-living community, with his wife, 78-year-old Eileen. “And I always say, he was a gentle man and a gentleman. Norman was such a kind, sweet, goodhearted person who would do anything to make anybody happy.”

Rockwell, born in 1894, was a prolific artist best known for his cover illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post magazine. He had a knack for capturing everyday life in America with his sentimental images, which ranged from humorous to deeply poignant. Rockwell also illustrated books and advertisements for major companies and painted portraits of several United States presidents.

Above: Marshall Staltz with illustrator Norman Rockwell.

Below: The first Rockwell picture that captured Marshall’s fancy.

A Brotherly Love

For Marshall, the road to Rockwell began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was home to the Stoltz family. When Marshall and his older brother, Donald, were about 11 and 13, their father presented them with the aforementioned Rockwell-illustrated Boy Scouts of America picture. It proved to be the perfect gift for the brothers, who were Scouts themselves.

“Boy, did we love that picture,” says Marshall with a smile. “It was so realistic. The detail was incredible.”

The brothers were so enamored with the image that they began collecting as much Rockwell artwork (reproductions, not originals) as they could find. With the help of their parents, the boys scoured flea markets, auctions, and antique shops gradually turning their hobby into an enormous collection.

Even in adulthood, their love of Rockwell never waned. Don became a doctor while Marshall earned a bachelor’s degree at Temple University in Philadelphia and taught science and driver’s education in nearby Haddon Heights, New Jersey.

In 1970, Marshall brazenly phoned Rockwell at his studio in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and told him about the collection that he and Don had amassed. Rockwell agreed to meet with his two superfans, and on the appointed day, the brothers arrived four hours early to ensure they wouldn’t be late. Right away, Rockwell put them at ease by insisting they call him Norman.

“That impressed the heck out of us,” says Marshall

Family Business

He and Don became friends with their idol and, in 1976, opened the Norman Rockwell Museum in downtown Philadelphia so they could share their collection with the world. Fittingly, their museum was housed in the same building where The Saturday Evening Post was printed – in a prime spot across from Independence Hall.

Marshall served as the curator, and his wife ran the facility. Don was the museum president, and the brothers’ parents helped with tours and in the gift shop. Marshall and Eileen’s daughter, Robyn Solomon, has fond memories of working at the museum alongside her parents.

“As the years went on, we all did our stint there,” laughs Robyn, also a Winter Springs resident and an instructor at the City of Orlando Pottery Studio. “It was a whole big family thing, and it was a great way to grow up.”

The museum showcased all of Rockwell’s 300-plus Post covers as well as advertisements, prints, and more. Additional highlights were a slide presentation about Rockwell and a replica of his studio, complete with a mannequin that resembled the artist.

The museum attracted Rockwell devotees from all walks of life including major celebrities such as disco diva Donna Summer and Michael Jackson during his Jackson 5 days.

Marshall’s ties to Rockwell didn’t end with the museum, though. At Rockwell’s request, Marshall began traveling throughout the United States and to other countries to speak to groups about the man’s life and work – because the artist was too busy to do it, himself.

Also, Marshall and Don penned four books about Rockwell: a three-volume set devoted to the illustrator’s Post covers and one about his advertising work that they co-authored with another writer. When the brothers showed their books to Norman, they were bowled over by his reaction.

“He said to us, ‘This is the greatest tribute that anyone could ever do for me,’ and then he said – and this blew us away – ‘Would you boys sign these books for me?’” recalls Marshall. “And we thought, ‘Everyone asks Norman Rockwell to sign something for them, and he asked us to sign something for him!’”

Rockwell died in 1978 at the age of 84 without ever being able to visit the brothers’ museum. The museum is no longer in operation having closed in the early 2000s after a 25-year run. However, an unrelated Norman Rockwell Museum can be found in Stockbridge, the last place the artist lived. The Stoltz brothers’ prized collection of Rockwell artwork is now stored in Don’s home in Philadelphia.

For his part, Marshall keeps the memories of that era alive through the stories he so joyfully tells to family, friends, and visitors alike.

“My dad has always been a huge patriot, and one of the things he loved most about Norman was that he portrayed American life,” says Robyn. “He appreciated Norman’s love of family and country and the way he depicted the everyday life and struggles of human beings.”

Eileen and Marshall in their Winter Springs apartment. The chair they’re standing next to is the same chair depicted in the Rockwell artwork on the wall. The chair was a gift to Eileen from Rockwell, himself.

Story was originally published in print in Summer 2023.