The following heartfelt statement, originally shared on LinkedIn, celebrates the incredible legacy of Troy Stewart and his dedication to the City of Hartford:
It is with an immensely heavy heart that I write this post to give honor and tribute to Troy Stewart, who unexpectedly passed away this past Wednesday. Troy was many things to many people, including the last Assistant Director for Recreation for the Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation. Through celebrations and challenges, Troy was a support, a confidante, a mentor, and a friend. His smile and laughter could illuminate any dark day; it’s what I will be holding on to during this time. It’s impossible to put into words how much he will be missed.
I am sharing here a tribute that I wrote for Troy upon his retirement from the City of Hartford last year. Troy himself read and approved this, so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me sharing it here:
Troy was a dedicated member of the City of Hartford for over 30 years, and was with DFCYR since its inception over a dozen years ago. He began his tenure in 1992 as a City Intern with the then Parks and Recreation Department. Since that time, he held various positions in recreation: from a Recreation Specialist to an Assistant Recreation Counselor. He also served as a Government Television Production Specialist for the Court of Common Council, and was a Government Cable Television Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office. Troy also worked in the role of Program Supervisor for the Department of Health and Human Services, and was DFCYR’s first Superintendent of Recreation before he entered into his last role before his retirement as Assistant Director for Recreation. Having served under FIVE Mayoral Administrations, to say that Troy dedicated his entire life to serving the City of Hartford would be an understatement. We are grateful for the vast, and often unseen, impact that Troy’s work has made on us all.
Over the years, Troy served thousands of our community members in ways that are too numerous to count. You would be hard-pressed to find a member of our community that has not been impacted, directly or indirectly, by the work that Troy helped to develop, implement, and lead. Everyone that knew Troy knew how passionate he was about the work we do, how much he cared for his staff and co-workers, and how extremely dedicated he was to our community. We could always count on his laugh to brighten up even the most difficult times, as he was a constant support to many throughout the years. His connection and dedication to the Hartford community is undeniable; and we know he will always remain part of the history of the DFCYR family.
Please keep Troy’s family, friends, and his City of Hartford family in your prayers during this difficult time.
