Stephen Novacich

Stephen Novacich was born in Manhattan on January 4th, 1951, to Steve and Ann Novacich, and grew up with his sisters, Susan and Kathy, in a loving and close-knit family on Long Island. He attended West Islip High School, where he loved learning, played baseball, and met his future wife, Elizabeth Elliott, with whom he would be married for forty-eight years, in love for all of them. Stephen moved north in the late 1960s to attend Clarkson, where he studied history. He went to Woodstock, he marched for peace, he taught in prisons, and he rescued turtles. He was our moral compass, though it would embarrass him to hear us say it. Stephen and Betty built their A-frame in the woods outside of Mooers Forks, where they raised their family, kept a garden, and maintained two wood stoves for decades. For years, Stephen advocated for services and dignity for people living with disabilities, and he retired as a regional coordinator for VESID, then an agency within the State Department of Education, helping people across northeastern New York. Stephen also volunteered in the community, serving on the Northeastern Clinton Central School board, the board of the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity (JCEO), and stocking shelves at the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf. He and Betty retired to a house on Lake Champlain, where they had the great fortune to be surrounded by a close community of friends and neighbors. Stephen loved to read nonfiction, follow politics, and travel, from the beaches of Normandy, to remember his father, to those of Paraty, Brazil, to have a damn good time. When he was younger, he loved to work outside; as he got older, he loved to go to Burlington with Betty, have a good meal, a drink, and people-watch on Church Street. He also made many, many trips to New York City and Hanover, New Hampshire to visit his beloved grandchildren . Toward the end of his life, his friends persuaded him to try karaoke. He was just okay at it. Stephen was the paragon of kindness. He would be pleased to know that he was able to donate organs in the end. He is loved and remembered by his wife, Betty; his children, Sarah and Sam; his son-in-law, Josh, and daughter-in-law, Candy; his four grandchildren, Luca, Sacha, Oscar, and Misha; his extended family, including his sister, Susan, his brother-in-law, Jerry, and their family; his sister, Kathy, his brother-in-law John, and their family; his sister-in-law, Jain, and her family; his sister-in-law, Barbara, his brother-in-law, Jimie, and their family; his brother-in-law, Nicholas; his mother-in-law, Gisèle; the Godoys of New York City; the DeFlorios of Randolph, Vermont; his best friend, Larry; and his many other friends, former colleagues, and neighbors. A memorial celebration will be held in the spring, and in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the JCEO www.jceo.org/donate or to the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf.