It’s with heartbreaking regret and overwhelming sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Stephen James Walrath, 73, of Brewster, Mass., and formerly of Newtown, Conn., on October 29, 2022.

Stephen was born September 8, 1949, to Glen and Charlotte Walrath in Albany, N.Y. After graduating Niskayuna High School, he attended Tufts University in Boston and obtained his master’s degree at UConn in computer science. He spent many summers of his life on Cape Cod as a successful greenskeeper at local miniature golf resorts, meeting the love of his life at the Wellfleet drive-in movie theater. He then eventually moved to Newtown to raise a family, starting a great career with PepsiCo, and finding his niche in becoming a wonderful parent.

Stephen moved to Cape Cod after retiring in 2014, where he was an avid gardener, often spending hours a day perfecting his vegetable beds, flowers, and trees and taking anyone he encountered on a tour of it, whether they wanted to go or not. His bounty would be made into treats for all to enjoy at holidays and family gatherings, and his grandsons particularly loved his “Chini bread.” Stephen also ran in multiple Brew Runs, knowing a well deserved pint was waiting at the end. He enjoyed his annual fishing trips with his cousins and grandsons, as well as the Lowell Folk Festival every July. One of his favorite pastimes would be to invite friends over to the house to enjoy each other’s company and a beverage on his Beer Drinking Porch. His favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, because he was able to spend time with his family, although nothing compared to playing all of his 7,500+ Christmas songs each year. His love for activities was only shadowed by that he had for others.

Stephen was predeceased by his parents.

In addition to his wife of 49 years, Nancy (née Alexander), Stephen is survived by his sons, Scott and wife Meghan (née Martin) of Bel Air, Md., Mark of Naugatuck, Conn., and Craig and his wife Hannah (née deJesus) of Medfield, Mass.; sister-in-law Jean and her husband Steve of Absecon, N.J.; grandchildren Jaxon, Alex, Bailey, and Quinn; his brother, John, and his wife Wendy (née Hamelin) of Schenectady, N.Y.; a great deal of cousins; and countless close friends.

There will be no calling hours.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 11:30 am, at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans, Mass. A celebration of life is being planned for the summer of 2023 with details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wellfleet Audubon Society at massaudubon.org, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History at ccmnh.org/donate, or any local Brewster, Mass., conservation organizations in Stephen’s memory.

For online condolences, please visit nickersonfunerals.com.