Stuart Statler

**LIVESTREAM LINK FOR THE 4/13/24 MEMORIAL SERVICE HERE**

Stuart Michael Statler, 80, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2024, with his family lovingly by his side. His death came two weeks after a very sudden decline in his health. Stuart is remembered by his partner, Barbara, and his children, Erin, Andy, and Jenny. 

Stuart was born June 15, 1943, in Bronx Hospital in New York and grew up in Yonkers with his parents, Sam and Helen, and brother, Alan. He spent his childhood running around the city and playing stickball with his friends. A bright young man with a deep sense of curiosity, he was diligent in his studies from a young age. After high school, he left Yonkers to attend Amherst College. In 1965, Stuart graduated from Amherst as a Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude. Stuart later earned a JD from Harvard University where he was a John Woodruff Simpson Fellow. 

Early in his professional career, he was Counsel to Senator Charles (“Chuck”) Percy. In 1973, Stuart became Chief Minority Counsel to the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. His performance on Capitol Hill eventually led President Carter to appoint Stuart to lead the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). He was confirmed by the Senate as Chairman of the CPSC in 1979.  The expertise he gained in consumer product safety eventually led Stuart to serve as an expert witness later in life, and it also meant that his kids were never allowed to jump on a trampoline or ride ATVs. After leaving the public sector, Stuart held other prominent positions, including Deputy Executive Director of the American Trial Lawyers Association and Executive Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. 

He spent the last 20 years actively working – right up to his death – as an expert witness on behalf of people who were harmed by consumer products. His work ensured that corporations took extra precaution in making their products safe for retail. His proficiency as an expert witness had a remarkable impact, offering solace and justice to families grieving over loved ones injured or killed due to corporate negligence. His compelling testimony often tipped the scales in their favor, earning him profound gratitude from those he championed.

In his personal affairs, Stuart’s life was happily upended when he met his first wife, Jean, in 1977 while working for Senator Percy. They loved to travel together, play racquetball, and host friends for gatherings. Their marriage was about being upstanding parents to their three children. They always filled their home with smart and loving people who greatly enriched the lives of their family.

While their unmitigated commitment to their children endured, the marriage between Stuart and Jean did not. Years after the divorce with Jean, Stuart began spending more time with Barbara, a longtime friend of his, and they decided to entwine their lives together as life partners. In 2010, they bought a house in Mooresville, North Carolina and moved south. Their westward-facing house on Lake Norman allowed Stuart to watch his beloved sunsets every night. Stuart and Barbara made a multitude of friends in the neighborhood, bought a boat, and hosted frequent gatherings with friends and family. Stuart was an active member of the Golden Boys, a social group of retired folks in the area. He loved playing with his dog, Lexi, in the yard. On Yom Kippur, he would take his old prayer book and sit in solitude by the lake, a place that felt sacred to him. When an osprey family built a nest on the chimney of their house, Stuart felt honored that they chose his home to reside, and he and Barbara would keep close watch on each year’s nest and hatchlings.

One of Stuart’s most defining qualities was his interest in people. He had a deep curiosity about the people he encountered day-to-day. Friends and acquaintances of all walks of life felt truly seen by him. He never wanted to talk about himself but rather was famous for his question-asking abilities. He always thought about others, cared for others, and was generous towards others. His children could be vulnerable with him. He went to bat for people when they needed him. He knew the friends of his children so well and they would go to him for advice. He loved looking over their résumés and even wrote letters of recommendation for them. People trusted his good judgment. He was a mentor. He was wise. He was sincere.

Perhaps Stuart’s favorite place in the world was the family farm in Front Royal, Virginia, which he purchased when he was 30. He loved spending time on the property and being in nature. He made it a welcoming space for everyone. He had a knack for getting people to take on projects at the farm, like clearing brush or painting the house or building the creek dam. Stuart took immense pride in cultivating the home’s communal feel among his friends, his kids, and his kids’ friends. In July 2023, the family celebrated the 50th anniversary of the farm – which happened to coincide with his 80th birthday. Scores of people attended, and his son’s band played a celebratory set at the end of the day. Stuart gave the keynote speech in which he thanked everyone for their participation in the farm’s legacy and encouraged them to keep coming and contributing to its magic.

Stuart loved people, and people loved him in return. He freely shared his gifts with the world, and he brought joy to the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him. On the day he died, there was a radiant sunset over Lake Norman. His presence was felt, as if he was going out on a high note and was still sharing his brilliance and warmth with his loved ones. In the Hebrew calendar, a new day starts at sunset, at the moment when three stars are visible in the sky. Let each sunset be a reminder of the days of Stuart’s life, how he treasured his three children like stars, how he embraced Barbara with light and warmth, and how he touched the lives of so many people. 

Stuart’s memorial service is open to all and will be held at 2pm on Saturday, April 13^th, 2024, at the chapel in the Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home (16901 Old Statesville Rd, Huntersville, North Carolina 28078). For those who cannot make it in person, the service will be livestreamed and may be viewed below or by clicking LIVESTREAM. The service will be followed by a Celebration of Life at his and Barbara’s home at 494 Bay Harbour Road, Mooresville, North Carolina.