Olin James Stephens

Olin James Stephens III, 80, passed away on Wednesday, July 23, 2013 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH with his family by his side. He was born in Westchester, NY on May 26, 1934, the son of the late Olin J. II and Florence (Reynolds) Stephens.

Olin spent his childhood years in Westchester, NY and at a his family home in Sheffield, MA. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1956 with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. After graduation, he delved into banking in New York City, but soon moved to Vermont and began to work in the fledgling ski industry where he managed several ski lodges in Wilmington, VT, and later managed the Valley of the Inns, an information and accommodation association for visitors to the area. After moving to Newfane, he went into real-estate, both in sales and renovation work. He was especially interested in affordable housing and returning some of the interesting apartment buildings in the area to be not only affordable, but to be a place that a tenant would enjoy living in. His various interests led him back to his passion for the fields of economics and finance, which he then followed throughout the rest of his life time.

Olin discovered sailing at an early age, and founded the Windham County Sailing Club in the 1960's. The club gathered together a community of those interested in sailing as a sport, and also taught sailing to both children and adults. He introduced weekend competition to the club and also sold sail boats, dinghies and sailing gear with his partner Lee Sheridan. This club remains vibrant and is still using Whitingham Lake as home base.

Olin loved to travel. He spent some very happy and lively college years in Colorado, and in Ohio. He spent time in Austria and Germany while in the army in the 1950's and returned as a tourist as often as he could to that area. He especially loved Italy and all things Italian, including a lifelong appreciation of Alfa Romeos among other Italian cars. He could talk about cars, especially Italian cars as long as anyone cared to listen.

He enjoyed his property on top of Putney Mountain to the fullest, spending many enjoyable hours working on the property, or just sitting on the deck reading, listening to either classical music or jazz, or just watching nature unfold around him.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Stephens of Newfane, VT; a son, Olin James Stephens IV and his wife Marcy of Jamaica, VT, a brother, Sam Stephens of Keene, NH; as well as many cousins and in-laws.

He will be sorely missed by his family and by the many people who became his friends and enjoyed his outlook on life. There will be no public services, a family gathering will be held at a later date.