Stephanie Cramer, 79, of Noank, died Thursday, June 1, 2017 at her home. She was born May 5, 1938 in Camden, NJ, to Alfred Cramer III and Irene Chmielieski Cramer, their second child and only daughter. She was raised in New Jersey and Cambridge, MA and graduated from the Sargent School of Boston University.
After graduation Stephanie taught physical education in the Rutland, VT school system and became one of the first certified National Ski Patrollers. She said she was the only woman in the group of 8 taking the test and was #1 after the two-day test, but gratefully accepted #2 when one of the examiners took the same test.
When her father and stepmother needed help she left her job and moved in with them, first in Florida and also Noank, CT where she lived until her father died in 1994.
For a number of years Stephanie lived in an apartment in Gales Ferry, CT that gave her direct access to the Thames River. There she developed her passion for fishing, especially fly casting, catch and release, and tying her own flies.
She worked for nearly 25 years, first in the gift store and then in the Finance Department of the Mystic Aquarium. She was recognized for her catch, tag, and release study of striped bass and her award-winning fly-tying.
Stephanie’s survivors are her brother, Alfred A. Cramer, niece, Laura Cramer Worrel, and nephews, David T. Cramer, John D. Cramer and Nicholas Cramer-Lewis.
A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, July 6, at 7:00pm, at the Mystic Aquarium, with the Rev. Adam Thomas of St Mark’s Episcopal Church leading the service. Memorial gifts should be made to the Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic CT.
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