Stuart Strothman

Stuart (Stu) Strothman, 56, passed away April 12, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. He was born January 22, 1969 in Cocoa Beach, FL. He was predeceased by his mother, Eleanor, and leaves behind three children: Jacob, Liron, and Susanna; partner, Zara DiZoglio; his father, Jim; and siblings, Joe and Jill; as well as many other beloved family and friends.
Stu wore many hats, literally and figuratively. As well as a wonderful father and partner, he was a teacher, historian, music enthusiast, sailor, river steward, author, journalist, juggler, Morris dancer, and loyal friend, to name only a few. In all things, he loved adventure, creating whimsical, fun experiences for the people around him until the end of his life.
Stu and his family moved several times during his young life, as his father was a journalist around the country. Eventually, they settled in Chappaqua, NY, where he spent most of his childhood and teenage years becoming very much his own person and building life-long friendships. Stu attended college in New Paltz, NY, and soon celebrated the birth of his first child, Jacob. From there, he moved to Westminster and then Putney, VT, where he raised Jacob and his two other children, Liron and Susanna, with their mothers.
Stu dedicated his career to advocating for students often left to the margins. Along the way, he inspired a love of language and grammar in many young people. During his time as a public school teacher at Guilford Central School and Bellows Falls Union Middle and High School, he served as Diversity Equity Committee Co-Chair and student newspaper advisor. Students from throughout his career have shared that he made it possible for them to reach graduation and changed their lives forever. Stu would say this was one of his greatest honors.
Stu fought consummately for environmental rights and historical preservation, spending much of his twenties working on and then later supporting the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. Once he was settled in VT, he became a river steward with the Connecticut River Conservancy. Stu spent many years as secretary and president of the Putney Historical Society and co-wrote Putney: World's Best Known Small Town. He was also instrumental in the acquisition and initial operations of Next Stage Arts and The Putney General Store.
As a lifelong writer, Stu published a historical novel, Sackett, set during the 18th century on Abenaki land (Western MA and VT) during violent conflicts between the Abenaki people and French and English settlers. He wrote many poems about the world and for loved ones, served as a journalist for The Commons, and fought for journalistic integrity as a board member on Vermont Independent Media.
Throughout the years, and perhaps especially in May, you could find Stu with bells on his knees and kerchiefs in his hands-or some such kit-as he gallivanted from Southern VT all the way to England with his various Morris teams: Jack in the Green, Green Mountain Mummers, Northwest Clog Morris, Putney Morris Men, and Windham. Through Morris and other friends, Stu found his way to pub sings, rich folk traditions, and community. He cherished the camaraderie of weekly practices and the commitment to one another by way of music and dance.
A fiercely loyal friend and family member, Stu was known for traveling long distances to gather loved ones. Many people have stories of raucous concerts, late night parties, camping excursions, long drives, and a whole lotta love. He stored in his mind a library of lyrics across genres he could whip out for any occasion, which kept him connected to friends from as far back as elementary school.
As a father, Stu's children remember him for his love, care, and strong-held values of self-determination, justice, community, and loyalty. They also recall the backyard skating rinks and snow slides he built, his excellent birthday party planning, his love of a detour on any road trip (especially if it involved learning about fish or a bakery stop), his dedication to high-quality candy, and his endless stories. His children will preserve his legacies and hope that all who loved him will share stories for years to come.
In the last years of his life, he was building a beautiful house in Wantastegok (at the confluence of rivers in Brattleboro) which his children intend to lovingly finish in his memory. This house has been a labor of community from the very beginning, and if you would like to support them in completing this dream in any way, please reach out.
Stu's kids have created an Ever Loved site (https://everloved.com/life-of/stuart-strothman/) where you can share photos, post messages, and find out information about the memorial service and other events.
In lieu of flowers, please honor him with donations to Connecticut River Conservancy, BF Community Bike Project, and/or Vermont Independent Media.