Stuart Joseph Mooney

Stu Mooney, 64, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 3, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family after suffering a brain aneurysm and stroke.
Stu was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 30, 1960, to Clifford "Kipper" and Joyce Mooney, the youngest of three boys with his brothers Kevin and Scott. Growing up in Wisconsin, he enjoyed countless trips to the Cedar Lake cabin, where he developed his love and talent for barefoot water skiing. He also discovered his lifelong passion for golf at a young age and loved family poker games over the holidays.
After graduating from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1983, Stu started his career in sales with L'Oreal in Minneapolis before joining Gillette, where his promotion moved him to Chicago in 1987. He quickly met Kacy, the love of his life, at She-nannigans bar on Rush Street, on May 2, 1987. She was visiting the city from Portland with her family and they caught each other's eye as he was playing basketball and spent the rest of the evening talking. On their flight home to Portland, Kacy's dad said that it was a shame that they'd probably never see Stu again, but Kacy's mom told him to not be so sure. They spent the entire summer writing letters and talking on the phone until Kacy moved to Chicago in September to join him, and they married in 1990 at White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville.
Stu then worked for the Takasago Corporation for 6 years before joining Quest, which was purchased by Givaudan many years later and is where Stu spent the remainder of his career. Over his 24 years there, he was incredibly valued, admired, and respected for his hard work and uncanny ability to connect with anyone and everyone. In his global role, Stu was able to travel the entire world and experience so many different countries and cities.
In 1996, Stu and Kacy had their first son, Griffin, in Geneva, IL, followed by their second son, Bear, in 1999. The new family of four moved to Sparta, New Jersey briefly from 1999-2001 before moving back to the Chicago area and settling in Lake Bluff, IL, where they spent so many formative years and made friends for life. Stu worked incredibly hard during these years but still managed to make so much time for fun and family.
In 2012, a new job opportunity brought Stu and his family to Westfield, NJ, where they would remain until Stu retired. While it was certainly a difficult time to move for all, Stu made the absolute most of it, as he did with everything, and made sure that his family was able to make it a true home, in every sense, finding their people and communities within their new town. Stu found his golf community in Westfield at Echo Lake Country Club, where he became a staple of the club and loved having his sons caddy for him whenever they could.
Stu had always known he wanted to retire early while he still had years of good health ahead of him, so he and Kacy made the move to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2019, to start a new chapter in paradise. Stu spent his 5 years of heaven on earth in Scottsdale doing everything he loved – golfing, playing poker and pickleball, and spending incredible quality time with Kacy and friends.
Whether in Lake Bluff, Westfield, or Scottsdale, Stu was loved and treasured in every community he found himself in, for his incredibly positive attitude towards life, his undeniable sense of humor, and his direct and practical approach toward any problem thrown his or his loved ones' way. Everyone who was lucky enough to cross paths with him was left better off and with a new perspective on life (and oftentimes with a new nickname). The love, friendships, and lessons that he left everyone with will remain forever.
Stu was preceded in death by his loving parents, Clifford and Joyce Mooney; his brother, Kevin Mooney; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ted and Joann Covalt. He is survived by his wife, Kacy; his two sons, Griffin and Bear; his brother, Scott Mooney; as well as countless in-laws and nieces and nephews.
In accordance with Stu's wishes, a private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the First Tee Foundation in memory of Stu Mooney, an organization that empowers kids and teens to build character and life skills through the game of golf. Memorial gifts may be made online to First Tee at: https://firsttee.org/donate.