John Samuel Stenstrom

John Samuel Stenstrom, 82, died a week after his diagnosis for cancer of the epiglottis while in hospice care in Pompano Beach, Florida.

John was born in Chicago and grew up in Evanston, Illinois, the oldest of three children. He lived in the Back Lot neighborhood of homes surrounding a playground, where he enjoyed playing tennis and figure skating along with community activities such as impromptu carnivals, grass fights, float-building for the Evanston 4th of July Parade, Halloween bonfires and pot luck dinners. It was through his efforts that the family joined St. Matthew's Episcopal Church where he began a life-long appreciation for organ music. John also became a proficient piano player. He enjoyed boat trips with his Dad on cruises on Lake Michigan and to Mackinac Island. According to his mother, John was so charming and socially adept that he could have written a handbook on "the care and feeding of parents." Once when he was grounded, Mom and Dad came home from a night out to find him throwing a party for his high school friends.

John had a distinctive sense of style-- he once constructed a delightful, tent-like structure made from an orange and white parachute for a successful back yard summer soirée.

John had many happy memories of his time at Evanston Township High School, Class of 1959, where he pursued an interest in horticulture, performed in high school musicals, and made many life-long lasting friendships. He joined Sigma Nu fraternity at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri and later received his BS from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. His early employment was with Price Waterhouse, Chicago, Illinois, followed by several years as an executive at Marshall Field Department Stores. In 1966 he was recruited by Jordan Marsh Department Stores in Ft. Lauderdale where he made his home for a career as a Sales Promotion Manager. Later he left JM to become the VP for Sales and Marketing for the U.S. Southeastern region with William F. Mayer Co, a kitchen and housewares firm based in Yonkers NY.

In 1975 he co-founded Tangerine, a high-end gay-oriented disco and restaurant on 2960 N. Federal Highway in Ft. Lauderdale, which tragically burned down several years later. In 1982 he moved to Washington DC, working as a consultant. He also helped to care for his mother Helen who died in 1988.

On his return to Fort Lauderdale in 1991, he entered the Mental Health Field as a Recovery Support Specialist with the Henderson New Vistas Program. As such he provided client services with mentorship and case management. He was especially proud of his work compiling their comprehensive Resource Directory of available social services in Broward County. John was a past member of the Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the Jaycees and as a CEO of the Peer Center Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale. Most recently he was a dedicated member of the All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, where a Memorial Service was held for him on May 30, 2024. He was also a member of the Ft Lauderdale Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

John is pre-deceased by his parents, Ken (1973) and Helen Stenstrom (1988) of Evanston, IL/Washington, DC and his younger brother Robert R Stenstrom (2022), of Milton, GA. He is survived by his sister Ruth Stenstrom and her partner Denzil Spicer of Washington, DC; his sister-in-law Sue Stenstrom of Milton GA; his cousins Rev. Jack and Joan Tench of Poulsbo, WA and Kathleen and Wayne Messmer of Wheeling, IL. as well as numerous other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, John requested that you give your support LGBTQ+ organizations or to support the organ program at All Saints Episcopal Church, 330 Tarpin Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33301-2337, 954-467-6496.