Stew Leonard Sr., founder of CT Stew Leonard’s stores, dies at 93
Stew Leonard, Sr., founder of Stew Leonard’s, passed away Wednesday, April 26 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York after a brief illness, according to a press release from the family.
He was 93.
Born in Norwalk, Leonard Sr. graduated Norwalk High School and the University of Connecticut’s School of Agriculture. He first worked for his family’s dairy business at Clover Farms Dairy in Norwalk. The farm was state-of-the-art at the time with a pasteurizing and bottling plant with milk being delivered by trucks that had plastic cows on the front that “mooed” for the neighborhood children.
In the late 1960s, Leonard Sr. realized the milk delivery business was going away. He knew it was time to start something new when he was told Clover Farms Dairy was in the path of a new highway, the press release said.
He began building a retail dairy store where children could watch milk being bottled while parents shopped in a farmers market atmosphere. In December 1969, Stew Leonard’s in Norwalk opened. It was 17,000 square feet and carried eight items.
The store earned a spot as the World’s Largest Dairy Store according to Ripley’s Believe It or Not and also earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest dollar sales per square foot of selling space.
“I’m so sorry to hear about Stew Sr.’s passing,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “When I was probably six years old, Stew was at the store and I ran to him like he was Santa. He kneeled down to say hi and then asked if I liked jellybeans, stuffing a bag in my coat pocket. Stew always loved his customers of all ages. Norwalk and all of Fairfield County are better for his contributions to our community. My thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.”
Leonard Sr.’s favorite thing to do, according to his family, was standing at the store’s front door to greet customers. He also spent time on the Long Island Sound and taught people to water ski.
Stew Leonard’s now has seven locations and is run by his son, Stew Leonard Jr. with the help of his siblings.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marianne Guthman Leonard, and their four children, Stew Jr. (Kim), Tom (Karen), Beth (Bill) Hollis, and Jill (Rocky) Tavello.
A memorial service and burial will be private. Donations in Stew’s memory may be made to the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation, a 501C3 charity which helps to fund swimming lessons for children in need, in honor of his grandson who drowned in 1989. Cards to the family can be sent to 100 Westport Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.
