Grocery Legend Stew Leonard Sr. Dead At 93

Stew Leonard, Sr., the patriarch of the northeast regional grocery store chain that bears his name, has died at the age of 93. He passed away on April 26 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York after a brief illness.

The Norwalk, Ct.-native opened his first Stew Leonard’s location in December of 1969, The 17,000 square foot store in Norwalk, that grew out of his milk delivery business, carried only eight items when it opened. Over time, that location would grow to become the “World’s Largest Dairy store,” according Ripley’s Believe It or Not. It also earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest dollar sales per square foot of selling space. 

Today, Stew Leonard’s is a $600 million family owned and operated business with seven farm fresh food store locations in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and has more than 2,500 employees. The company also earned Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” honor for 10 consecutive years. The grocer is run by Stew’s son, Stew Leonard, Jr. with help from his siblings Tom Leonard, Beth Leonard Hollis, and Jill Leonard Tavello. Five of his grandchildren have also joined the business.

Leonard, Sr., is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marianne; his aforementioned four children; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.  

A memorial service and burial will be private, and a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. 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.