Flavia W. Stutz Was Devoted to Town of Gay Head

Flavia Wagner Stutz died on July 24 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital. Flavia was devoted to the town of Gay Head, now Aquinnah, where she lived year-round since 1975 after summering there since 1958. She was born in Ames, Iowa in 1925, daughter of a professor who later taught at Cornell University and the University of Virginia. Flavia met her future husband Robert Stutz while both attended Cornell University. They married in 1949 and had three children, Michael and identical twins, Heidi and Cynthia. Robert became a professor of labor relations at the University of Connecticut in Storrs where he and Flavia raised the children, spending their summers in Gay Head.

The family traveled extensively, touring Europe for three months by Volkswagen bus and ocean liner in 1964, and living for 18 months in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 1966 to 1967 where Robert taught at the university and Flavia organized safaris and a return home through the Far East. From 1970-1971 they lived in Geneva, Switzerland while Robert was on sabbatical to study European labor issues.

After Robert retired from the university in 1975, he and Flavia moved to Gay Head to live year-round. Flavia served on the planning board for about 28 years, from 1976 to 2004, working to retain the rural character of the town that she loved. She and Robert were among the founders of the Gay Head taxpayers association that defended the town against the Indian land claim and negotiated the settlement of those claims. After their children grew up, Flavia and Robert continued to travel around the world with close friends until Robert's death in 1998. Since then Flavia and Camille Rose have been inseparable friends.

Flavia had a lively intellect. She was an avid reader, bridge player, observer of local and national politics, and a life-long democrat. Her empathy and humor made her many friends. She loved to spend time at the beach and in the ocean. She had a positive outlook on the world and the integrity to speak the truth. She leaves her three children, Michael Stutz, Heidi Stutz and Cynthia Craig, her son in law Kevin Craig, and two grandchildren, Zack and Tucker Craig.

She will be interred privately by her family in the Gay Head cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Vineyard Conservation Society or to the Island EMTs.