R. Stewart Wooster

I want to let you know that my sweet husband Stewart passed away yesterday morning, April 6. Until the beginning of last week he had been up and about, if weak, and eternally cheerful and content. His health took a precipitous turn on Wednesday but he was in no pain and his death was very peaceful. He died on a beautiful Sunday morning when Spring is finally in the air…….a day when, as son Jonathan said, Stewart would be up early and out the door with his pruning shears and as daughter Leah observed, oblivious to the fact that he had on his good pants and shoes and no jacket or hat. I would have found him kneeling in the dirt examining the shoots of the tulips we planted last October.

He had a wonderful life – no one believed that more clearly than he did. Everyone who knew him knew his stories of growing up happily in Randolph Center, VT and how proud he was to be a Vermonter. His first wife, Jane, sadly died very young and they had no children. When we met, I had two children who were about to be teenagers and they became his family within the first 10 minutes. He loved them unconditionally and with incredible pride and joy for the last 30 years and every bit of that love was returned. Stewart had a wonderful family – two sisters, Alberta Wood and Lillian Grace, who adored him (their "baby brother"), wonderful brothers-in-law, Austin Wood and Bob Grace, five nephews, two nieces and their spouses. His family embraced me and my children and we became their family too.

In my lifetime I don't think I've known a sweeter, more generous spirit than Stewart. He was a beloved teacher and athletic coach and eventually the president of a small, community bank in Randolph VT. He never said an unkind word about anyone or to anyone – even me! He retired some time ago and joined us in Boston where he became quickly renowned for his exquisite gardens, beautiful stone walls and the ability to make wonderful dinners for any and all colleagues of mine who came to Boston for meetings from all across the country.

In spite of 8 years of progressive dementia and more recent battles with cancer, his sense of humor, cheerfulness and graciousness never left him. A good friend who visited last week advised him, when she left, to "stay warm and behave yourself". His reply? "I'll stay warm".

I am so fortunate to have wonderful friends, neighbors and colleagues, thoughtful, skilled caretakers who have helped me over the last months, two incredible children and their partners who live nearby and one, perfect grandchild. I have work I continue to love and beautiful gardens that Stewart and I made and loved together that will give me endless joy and peace. Stewart was an amazing gift every day and I have nothing but warm, happy memories.

Services will be private and burial will be in the Vermont Veteran's Cemetery in Randolph sometime in late Spring or early summer. Friends are invited to stop and visit from 4 – 6 pm on Sunday, April 27 at Leah and Bruce's home, 4 Riverview Avenue in Waltham, MA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Randolph Union High School In Memory of R. Stewart Wooster, c/o Ms. Donna Pittsley, 15 Forest Street, Randolph, VT 05060.