Stefan Grotz, a local attorney and former selectman of Monterey, Mass., died on April 6 of complications related to a recent cancer diagnosis.
Stefan was born in 1938 in New York City and grew up in the West Village with his parents, Paul and Dorothy Grotz. He attended The Little Red Schoolhouse and Elizabeth Irwin High School before earning his B.A. in English and History at Cornell University. He received his M.A. in English from the University of California at Berkeley and his J.D. from Western New England College School of Law.
Always living life to the fullest, Stefan traveled extensively in the 1960s and tried his hand at many jobs including as a farm foreman, house painter, stone mason apprentice, gardener, model, commercial fisherman, lifeguard, cancer lab technician, educational advocate, and donut maker to name a few; his was a storied life. He was also involved in the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s and remained thoughtful about issues of social justice throughout his life. In the 1970s he worked as a consumer advocate, writing several syndicated newspaper columns, participating in weekly radio discussions and working for the Extension Service in consumer protection while attending law school at night. He was absolutely passionate about the law and his community; he served as a Monterey Selectman for three terms and ran a solo law practice up until his recent diagnosis. He always counseled his daughters to choose careers that they loved and would always follow this with, “I love what I do.”
Stefan was a lifelong athlete and was once quoted by a local paper as saying “Everything I learned in sports is what I am today.” He played basketball, baseball and soccer as a youth and had fond memories of playing street ball near his Greenwich Village home. He went on to compete for the swim team at Cornell University, and, after settling in Monterey in the early 1970s, he was a regular at Sunday softball and often could be found at pick-up basketball games in the local park. Until his recent diagnosis, Stefan swam daily at the Community Center. A lover of the outdoors, few places made him happier than the ocean and the ski slopes. It was not atypical for Stefan to stop at Butternut on his way to the office, put his ski suit on over his dress clothes and enjoy a few runs. He would later swing by the Community Center for some laps in the pool.
Stefan had a great appreciation for life and enjoyed every season. His respect for nature was abundant; he often stared at the ocean and reverently commented on the power of the sea. He found beauty in the land and great joy in simple things like mowing the lawn and tending his garden. He loved working with his hands. Those who knew Stefan will likely remember his wide smile and calm, steady demeanor. He provided a source of strength in many people’s lives and was the anchor for his family. A dedicated husband and father, he and his wife, Stephanie, raised their two daughters, Michelle and Natasha, in Monterey and were a constant presence at their childhood sports and other extracurricular activities. The family remained close whether physically together or apart. In more recent years, they spent many weeks together in Wellfleet with friends and extended family enjoying the sea and each other’s company.
Stefan is survived by his wife of 45 years, Stephanie, their daughters, Michelle and Natasha, son-in-law, Neville, and grandchildren, Nina and Desi.
Services will be at held at 1:30 on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Monterey Church; a reception will immediately follow in the Upper Lodge at Butternut Basin (3-6 p.m.).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to Berkshire South Regional Community Center, a place Stefan loved, through Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230 or online at https://berkshiresouth.org/giving/. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to www.finnertyandstevens.com.
