Stephen Clarke Moody, age 85, died peacefully in his sleep at Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, on Saturday morning, August 29, 2026. Stephen was born to Professor Robert Earle Moody and Eleanor Newton Wragg Moody of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts on December 27, 1940, in Boston, Massachusetts. He had a fraternal twin, Susan, who died of pneumonia several weeks after their premature births. In 1943, Stephen and his older brother, David, moved with their parents to Needham, Massachusetts where he attended primary school and junior high. Early in childhood, Stephen was found to be hard of hearing and required a hearing aid and speech therapy. His mother worked with him tirelessly to improve his diction and ensured that he could be mainstreamed in school. In 1957, he entered the Browne & Nichols School in Cambridge, Massachusetts from which he graduated with the class of 1960. He was a member of the glee club, active in football, wrestling, and crew, and an assistant editor of the school yearbook. After graduation, he attended Boston University, made the Dean’s List, and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. In 1971, he graduated from Northeastern University with a master’s degree in education.

Stephen worked for many years teaching in the cities of Chelsea, Massachusetts and Bow, New Hampshire. While in Bow, he was a member of a choral society in Concord and spent weekends at the family summer home in Ashburnham, Massachusetts with his grandfather. Later, Stephen moved to Boston, Massachusetts and taught at Norfolk County Agricultural School in Walpole, Massachusetts. In 1996, he retired from his teaching career as the Director of Special Education at the school. Because of his early hearing difficulties, Stephen long felt drawn to helping young people who suffered from disabilities that interfered with their learning. Over his 32-year teaching career, he helped many children with their studies with one-on-one mentoring and tutoring after school.

Stephen had a deep interest in opera and opera stars. He was a season ticket holder for the Boston Opera and occasionally attended performances in New York City. He had an extensive collection of early phonograph recordings and books on the history of opera and classical music. He carried on interesting correspondence with several retired opera singers and other early phonograph record collectors. Stephen also had a fascination with Walt Disney memorabilia, especially the work of Disney animators. When asked about classic Disney films such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” or “Sleeping Beauty” he could name the principal animators, describe their professional careers, and talk about the technical aspects of their process.

Over the years, Stephen travelled widely throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, often in the company of his parents, who in later years depended upon him for assistance in traveling. His favorite places to visit were Disneyland, Disney World, and Kennebunkport, Maine.

In 1997, Stephen moved from Boston, Massachusetts to Alstead Center, New Hampshire to be closer to his brother and sister-in-law where he lived for 16 years. While living in Alstead, Stephen attended Alstead Friendly Meals, volunteered at the Fall Mountain Food Shelf and the Alstead Historical Society, and enjoyed driving around the back roads of the Monadnock Region looking for old books, antiques, and phonograph records. He was a regular attendee at the First Congregational Church in Alstead Center.

In early 2014, he moved to Maplewood Nursing Home because of declining mobility. At Maplewood, he was known for his humor and beautiful singing voice. He participated in many activities over the years and especially loved the musical events, therapy dog visits, and the friendship of the resident cat, June. His family will be forever grateful to the compassionate and loving care that Stephen received from the doctors, nurses, health aides, and staff at Maplewood.

Stephen is survived by his brother, David W. Moody, his niece, Sarah M. Scherschel and her husband, Craig A. Scherschel, of Alstead Center, New Hampshire, and his grandniece, Ruth D. Scherschel, of Portland, Oregon.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the First Congregational Church, across the street from 471 Alstead Center Road, Alstead, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested in his name to the

First Congregational Church of Alstead, 471 Alstead Center Rd, Alstead NH 03602 

or 

The Fall Mountain Food Shelf, 122 NH Rte 12A, Langdon NH 03602

The Cremation Society of New Hampshire has been entrusted with arrangements. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence or for more information please visit www.csnh.com