Visitation
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Service
Committal
Steven Joseph Stafstrom, 67, of Nebo, NC, passed away on August 13, 2025 after a courageous, seven-year battle with cancer.
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut on July 2, 1958, he was the son of the late John Francis Stafstrom and Joan Oberer Stafstrom. He was a graduate of Newington High School in Connecticut, and a devoted alumnus of St. Anselm’s College and the University of Notre Dame, where he played rugby and graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree.
As a businessman, Steven was a successful and well-respected Manufacturing Operations Executive, having worked at Textron at the Stratford (CT) Army Engine Plant and for 2 decades at Stanley Black and Decker, where he retired as a Senior Operations Executive, holding a Board position. He was a leader and a mentor, intrepid in his endeavors. While being a savvy executive, he was an optimist who always looked for the good in others.
Those who knew Steven, knew of his great passion for all things Notre Dame. He was an avid football fan, becoming a season ticket holder which was a great point of pride for him. He loved being able to take family to tour campus, share the Irish spirit, tailgate and cheer the team on to victory.
Steven was a loving father, grandfather, and brother, and had a great love for his large extended family. Steve especially relished the Stafstrom Family Christmas Eve, a tradition started by his father, and he took on the task of preparing the Swedish Meatballs, keeping the tradition that the whole family loved alive.
Steven was an accomplished runner, completing the Boston Marathon twice. He volunteered as a Little League coach in Orange, CT for his children for many years. He loved the beach, the lake, and became an avid golfer in his retirement years.
In his retirement years, Steven found peace living with his wife Valerie in the beautiful foothills of western North Carolina on Lake James. They were very happy to enjoy their most special place with their extended families. He and his wife became members of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Morganton, NC.
In more recent years, along with his wife, he established the “Steven and Valerie Stafstrom Foundation” for charitable giving. The Foundation’s mission is to help fund higher education, medical research, the underserved, and the preservation of our natural resources and wildlife.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Valerie Ann Hugick Stafstrom; children, Steven Stafstrom, Jr. (Christine) of Bridgeport, CT, Eric Stafstrom (Sarah) of Fairfield, CT, and Kristen Stafstrom Adolph (Lee) of Columbia, MD; six grandchildren (Jessica and Julia Stafstrom, Kaylee and Elena Adolph, Oscar and Sally Stafstrom); and four brothers, John Jr. (Dennis), Paul (Clare), Greg (Suzanne), and James (Margaret) Stafstrom, all of Connecticut. He also predeceased his first wife Linda (Ferris) Stafstrom of Trumbull, CT, the mother of his children.
Calling hours for neighbors and friends in NC will be 1 – 3 PM on Monday August 18, 2025 at Sossoman Funeral Home. Expanded services will held at a later date in Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Steven and Valerie Stafstrom Foundation, c/o Fusco Financial Associates, 505 Baltimore Avenue, Towson, MD 21204.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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Our heartfelt condolences to the entire Stafstrom family. Steve sounds like an amazing man who leaves a legacy of a life well lived! Hoping your wonderful memories with Steve will bring you comfort in the months ahead. Thoughts and prayers to his family.
I knew Steve as a senior colleague at Stanley Black & Decker. He was a tremendous leader and a wonderful person, highly respected and liked by everyone. He was inspirational, pragmatic and never gave up. He had the highest integrity, an endearing sense of humor and left a lasting legacy at SBD to be proud of. While I recently retired, I know his numerous former colleagues at SBD are mourning him. I also had the pleasure of working with Valerie at SBD in finance. My thoughts are with you Valerie, at this difficult time. My sincere condolences to you Valerie and to his beloved family. He was a great man and will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace. Michele Webster
Dear Valerie and family, I am so sorry about Steven’s passing. He was an outstanding business leader who consistently added value through inspirational leadership. More importantly, he was thoughtful and compassionate in everything he did. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Sincerely, Joe
I had the pleasure of working directly for Steve dirn2 years while I was at Stanley and got to know him over a few more years while we were there. He was the consummate professional who believed in bringing out the best in his people. I hope the family can find peace knowing he is no longer in pain. My god shine his light upon your family during this difficult time.
Steve and I were blessed to be at the same place at the same time, but even more so, to be likeminded. We knew our strengths and weaknesses and readily differed to one another. We were also blessed with time, twenty years chewing the same dirt and a decade and a half spending most days together. Steve was a decade older than me so almost everything I went through he had already been through. I so respected his judgement that I sought his opinion on nearly everything important or not, professional or personal. Steve was honest, fair, wise and trustworthy. He was underestimated by some, but only by those that didn’t know him well. Steve was a tower of strength, an abundance of calm and a fountain of youth. I have many acquaintances but few friends. Steve was my friend. In one of the final times we spoke, we spoke of the Lord and accepting his plan for eternal life. As such, I am not sad, as I know I will see my friend again. I will pray for Val, his sons and daughter, his grandchildren and the brothers Stafstrom as I knew he loved you all and you too will miss him, especially each Christmas Eve. I love you Steve, Jeff Ansell.
Steve will be missed. Great leader but even a better person. Rest in peace.
My acquaintance to Steve was during his glory days in SBD. Steve is a great leader, visionary and empathetic to people around him. Words cannot express our sorrow for this great loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult times. May his sole rest in peace. Gopal
Many of my fondest adult memories were acting like kids coaching youth sports with Steve, going to parties and events. Nobody had the ability to combine pure joy with seriousness like Steve Stafstrom. All who knew him are better for it. Both Elyse and send our sincerest condolences to Steven, Eric, and Kristen and their families.
Steve was a true leader and mentor for so many at Stanley Black & Decker. I admired him greatly and he will be missed. The personal impact he had on me will never fade. My deepest condolences. Pete Murray
Rest in peace Steve. It was a privilege working with you all those years at SBD. See you on the other side my friend. Deepest sympathies to the Stafstrom family.