Stephen R. King

Stephen R. King, 76, of Hinsdale, NH, passed away on October 1, 2023, at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Palliative Care Center. Born in Springfield, VT on June 25, 1947, Stephen was the son of Arthur K. King and Betty Rounsefell King. He grew up in Springfield, the second of four brothers, and attended local schools. He also spent a year at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, before returning to the area to continue a lifelong career in writing, arranging, and performing music, principally guitar.

One of Steve’s greatest gifts was his sense of humor, familiar to all who knew and loved him.  When laughter erupted in the room, chances were that Steve was at the center of it. Making others laugh, even when he himself was suffering, helped sustain him through adversity and put others at ease.  

While Steve’s lifelong passion was music, he also found great joy in carpentry, designing and constructing his own home and several outbuildings on his property in Hinsdale.  Among these buildings was a professional music studio, where he taught, wrote, rehearsed, and recorded music. Steve also had an abiding interest in American history and historical battles, particularly the histories of Fort Ticonderoga and the Alamo, which led him to make memorable visits to these sites.

Stephen is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Diane Symancyk King, their daughter, Mandy, and granddaughter, Hannah, of Tallahassee, FL. He also leaves three brothers, David (George) King of Benicia, CA, Howard (Dodie) King of Groveland, FL, and Peter (Dawn) King of Shaftsbury, VT, in addition to cousins Betsy Rounsefell Morris of Southborough, MA, Judy Rounsefell of Oshkosh, WI, Lindsay Rounsefell of Chester, VT, and several nieces and and a nephew. He was predeceased by a dear friend, Jerry Pierce, in 1999.

A gathering of remembrance for Stephen will be celebrated privately.  Donations in Stephen’s name may be made to VNH at vnh@vnhcare.org.