Dr. Stephen C. Fleury

In Loving Memory
Dr. Stephen Charles (Steve) Fleury
August 22, 1953 – February 14, 2025
BREWERTON, NY - Dr. Stephen Charles (Steve) Fleury, Professor Emeritus of Education, of Brewerton, NY; passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025, at NYU Langone Tisch Hospital in New York City waiting for a lung transplant after a hard-fought, month-long battle with a sudden and severe lung disease.
Steve was born in Malone, NY on August 22, 1953 to his beloved parents, Bernard and Olga (Leroux) Fleury. After graduating from Salmon River High School in 1971, Steve received a B.A. in History from Le Moyne College in 1975. Steve continued his education at Syracuse University, earning his Masters in Teaching and completing his PhD in Education in 1985.
While working on his doctorate, Steve taught 7th grade Social Studies in the Central Square School District before transitioning to higher education. He began his lifelong career as a professor at Hobart and William Smith College, then at SUNY Oswego for eleven years where he taught and served as Associate Dean in the School of Education. Beginning in 1998, Steve taught at Le Moyne College for 27 years, where he remained until his passing. Throughout his celebrated tenure, he was a proud professor in Le Moyne's Education Department and twice served as Department Chair. In these roles, he was a fierce advocate for quality teacher preparation and a defender of faculty rights and responsibilities. Steve was a scholar of philosophy, cognitive psychology, and critical education theory and was deeply committed to his research. In addition to his numerous publications, he has presented at many domestic and international conferences that allowed him to collaborate and connect with scholars from across the world. Above all, Steve loved learning and teaching, the driving forces in both his professional and personal life, and he found much joy in his students' successes. It was his greatest honor as a teacher educator to be able to impact generations of future learners.
In addition to his teaching career, Steve found great joy in farming. As the son of multi-generational farmers, Steve nurtured his love of the land throughout his life. The work of farming and his family's relationship to it foundationally shaped Steve's understanding of the world and his connection to his North Country home, minutes from the Québec border. This connection to his roots sparked many different farming endeavors throughout his life. Growing up, Steve spent many hours at his family's general store, and the stories he collected there became an integral part of the life lessons he imparted to his children and students.
Music was also a pivotal part of Steve's life. As a teenager and college student, he played bass guitar in several bands that performed throughout the North Country and Syracuse areas. His love for playing was rekindled around 15 years ago and initiated his participation playing bass and lead guitar in various groups that perform in the CNY region. He was an extremely dedicated musician who taught himself to play fiddle and mandolin and he recently began taking vocal lessons. Steve was grateful for all the lifelong friends he made among members of the CNY music community.
He lived in the Brewerton area for almost 40 years and served on the Central Square School Board from 2006-2012 where all three of his children attended school. He was also a board member for the Brewerton Center of the Arts.
He enjoyed family above all. His deep connection to his roots inspired a lifelong dedication to genealogical research. He lovingly shared family stories about his French Canadian and Scottish Canadian ancestors and relished every opportunity to attend a family reunion or gathering. Steve was a storyteller; his ability to find connections with people was a gift he gave anyone he met, even during his hospitalization. He was a lifelong learner and believed that making human connections was the only way to bridge differences. Within minutes of meeting him, you knew you had found a friend.
Steve is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Elizabeth (Aitken) Fleury who he met during their sophomore year at Le Moyne College. He is also survived by his three children, Johanna Fleury (Matt Hand), James Fleury (Erin Oaster), Julia Fleury (Zack MacNabb), his two granddaughters Nadia and Vivien, sisters Joanne Foisy (Hector) and Cheryl LeBlanc, brother Jack Fleury (Diane), brothers and sisters-in-law Peter and Patricia Aitken, Betsy Rudolph, John Aitken and Marybeth Foisy, and Nancy and Philip Foisy. He leaves behind many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends who will miss him deeply. In addition to his parents, Steve is predeceased by his brother Lloyd and wife Ida Mae, sister Elaine Brandt and husband Dick and brothers-in-law Robert LeBlanc and Michael Aitken.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at All Saints Catholic Church in Syracuse, NY on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. The mass will be livestreamed via the Parish website. In lieu of a wake, the family will greet guests prior to Mass from 10 - 11 a.m. Spring Interment will be in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Baldwinsville, NY. We hope you understand that due to space limitations, the luncheon following the Mass is limited to our large extended families. However, we invite you to join us at Le Moyne College at 2:30 pm in the James Commons Room (located on the first floor of the Campus Center), to continue celebrating Steve's life by sharing memories or honoring him in your own personal way. Steve would like nothing more than for everyone to meet new friends and renew old friendships. Arrangements are in care of Harter Funeral Home, Inc. 9525 S. Main Street, Brewerton, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jesuit Student Relief Fund of Le Moyne College, InterFaith Works of Central New York, or Mercy Flight. Steve's illness required a double lung transplant, which he was accepted to receive before his passing. It is his family's heartfelt request that you please consider becoming an organ donor and save someone's life.
The family wishes to thank the medical professionals who lovingly cared for Steve during his brief illness and understood how much he meant to his family.
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Interment Information
Location: Our Lady of Peace
Address 8668 County Route 57
Baldwinsville, New York 13027