MARIE SUZANNE STELLA

We lost an amazing woman five years ago but she left a great impression on the world.

It's January, 2025, and only now do I learn Marie is not with us. My last memory of her dates back to the summer of 2009, when I visited her at the time new LEED certified home, constructed from locally sourced materials. She was a wealth of uplifting energy, an adventurous mind, curiosity, and love. Her smiling encouraging spirit was distinct, impactful and contagious. I really wish I would have kept in touch. She was my teacher of landscape design, and most definitely impacted my interests, my focus, and the trajectory of my life. She was one in a billion. A true feminist role model. Thank you, Marie Stella, thank you, her family who gave her to the world and sustained her.

i wish i could go on a tour with her - food or flowers! culinary travels through great gardens. i wish i had, when i could have done...
i also loved our History of Great Gardens class at NYBG. she was a master. she is still missed.

Marie was my teacher in landscape design at NYBG. She challenged and inspired with her outstanding intellect and encouragement. So sorry to hear of this loss. In death she continues to amaze as I read these tributes to a fine person of great humor and intelligence.

Marie was one the most influential teachers in my life. She gave me the confidence to pursue my masters.

ohhhh - just about ready to send an email to Marie, and i come upon her passing. my heart pounded with sadness and regret. this is what i was about to send to her:

"hello Marie!

i was a student of your most enjoyable history of landscape arts class at NYBG - 1998[?] ahhh, those times..
you also were so kind to offer to me a couple jobs - - - i remember a residential front entry garden with birches...and a park in nyc - which i saw reference to when i was searching how to contact you - the "âEURoeEl Jardin del Paraiso,âEUR" - found here: http://www.gardenclubbackbay.org/tag/marie-stella-byrnes/
i just checked it out - https://eljardindelparaiso.org/HISTORY - wow..what a process...and viewed some pix - https://www.facebook.com/annieelJ/photos/2969477366422122 - it was so much needed! - and your efforts created a park that served as quite a central hub of learning, playing, gathering...for the neighborhood!

WELL -
my initial purpose for contacting you regards >> wishing i'd joined your trips to the various provinces of italy. might you still organize these??
hindsight 20/20, eh? - not a good time for this... :( but i´d jump on the chance.

also it seems you are quite active in various talks, seminars...brava!

if you are..."
then i learned of her passing..
to her family - offering comfort to know that she was a fountain of knowledge and she added greatly to my furthering my career in landscape design - especially in minimalism - which was my final paper.

how i regret not keeping in touch with this uniquely talented designer and 'encyclopedic' educator.

gail bishop
https://www.houzz.com/pro/thunderstorm/__public

As I look at the shelf above my computer, I focus on a beautiful Japanese lacquered box that Marie brought as a house guest gift. It rests in front of a a paper fan that I received from Japanese hosts on our joint trip to Japan back in the late 60's. It reminds me of Marie's thoughtfulness and generosity and the depth of our friendship.

Special friendship in early years. Special thoughts and fond memories, always.

When Marie's annual Christmas card did not arrive, I figured that like me, Covid 19 made it difficult for us to send holiday greetings.
Learning now that she passed in Oct., I am saddened but grateful for the time I spent with her. During my student days at Radcliffe, I worked for her on various projects, including the garden in NY, the herb garden, her mother's house and the Boston Flower Show.
Our friendship continued with calls and mail when I moved to Florida in 2005 and I was able to join her in Italy and on a private trip to France. I admired her greatly and am saddened to learn of her passing. I shall miss her wit and her laugh!

On this being Marie’s 80th birthday, I’m saddened by her loss, but able to cherish memories of our young years of April birthdays, bone China gifts, playing the game of Clue, and of course , (Mrs. Stella’s request) , “go to the store, get 2 loaves of Italian bread”! Marie and I, on the way home, would hollow out and eat 1 loaf of bread and bring home the full loaf! Mrs. Stella was a wise woman! My elementary and junior high school days with Marie are to be cherished and memorialized. My deepest sympathy to Marie’s family. I’m thankful for being able to share our young lives together. Her birthdays will certainly not be forgotten. Special thoughts, Diane

Sorry. I just got this news a few months late.

Marie was a true individual, with a crackling sense of humor, infectious laugh and witty intelligence. She could expound on nearly any subject, particularly on her favorites - food, gardening and travel. I met her in the early 1980s, as a colleague at Asia Society where she worked in NY with our performing arts department. She taught me so much, it is uncountable and unimaginable. Over the years, after she left that job, we remained friends. Eventually I brought her over to our community garden, El Jardin del Paraiso, where she created a masterful design, which still thrives today. She would love to see the groups of children that play there daily. When my daughter Sarazina went to Hampshire College, I was thrilled to be able to visit Marie and stayed with her many times at her extraordinary Beaver Lodge, a work of art, like everything she touched. I last saw her in January, 2015. (photo attached here) We celebrated Asian New Year's with some odd delicacies I had gotten from Japan. She asked me to bring Shochu, a strong Japanese liquor, which is known as "The national spirit of Japan. We drank and ate with my family, who she loved. We had a great time and she was always a delicious host. I knew she was ill, but did not hear much from her except for the annual holiday card, which last came in December 2019. Marie, you will be remembered and cherished forever in my heart. My condolences to Justin and Aran who I knew since they were small, and to her siblings and friends and extended family. She loved you all so much.. May her memory be a blessing.

Marie fought a viliant final health battle as her heart failed her. I had the privilege to call her close friend. We met decades ago on a study trip to Japan and continued to visit one another thereafter. I will miss Marie, her gifts and especially her generous graciousness.

Marie inspired me since We became friends in 1971 in Charlement.
I drove the van on an Italy trip with her mother!
This is a bread class on the Cape - Oct. 2018- she always kept learning.
I already miss her visits .

Marie was a longtime and beloved member of our Yoga class. I know I am speaking for all members of the class when I say that we will miss her
shining presence, her humor and her enthusiasm to keep going no matter what.
To her family, friends, colleagues and students, we extend our sympathy and hopes for comfort and peace in this time of loss.
Namaste.

Marie has been my friend since 1970, I’ve travelled with her to Italy with her mother, visited each other’s houses and I’ve been planting squash from her seeds. After a heart attack decades ago, she told me how lucky she was that it happened , not at the Charlemont farm but in NY city or she’d be“ fertilizer for the squash” ...
She’s somewhat of a mentor to me for staying engaged so intensely in a humble balanced life with lots of caring for friends, family, foods, and nature. I have Justin and Aran and their families in my thoughts and I sure hope you express this in person someday.
I’m her Cape Cod friend if you come in this direction after these strange times. Please contact me.