STEWART L. HARTWELL “Santa”

Stewart Landon Hartwell, 74, died Friday, November 11 at Mystic Healthcare in Mystic.  Born April 6, 1948 to the late Raymond “Pete” Hartwell and Beatrice Payne Hartwell, he grew up in Waterford, graduating from Waterford High School in 1966.

Stewart studied hairdressing at New London Academy and with Vidal Sassoon in London and was a hairdresser in the Norwich area for nearly 40 years at various salons until opening his own business Butcherz and later Stewart Salon.  He also spent time as a dealer and pit boss at Foxwoods Resort and Casino where he designed their beauty salon.  A serious bicycling accident in 2006 forced him into early retirement.

He studied classical guitar with the late Roy Hart and had been a board member of the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society and the Garde Arts Center.  From childhood, he was a magician and a member of the New London Society of Magicians. 

From a young age, Stewart loved Christmas and all that Santa represents- the joy of giving to others and the overall spirit of Christmas. His children have fond memories of him staying up all night creating a very special Christmas wonderland for them each year. He was often mistaken for Santa Claus in later years and nothing brought him more joy. Always an artist, his “little green men” became the basis for his cartooning and his Christmas cards each year.

Stewart is survived by his daughters with his late ex-wife Mary Ann Wilson- Kyra (James) Justice of Mystic and Britta Hartwell-Yen (Tuff Yen) of Georgia, daughter Rose with Jeanne Britt, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a sister Rae (Mark) Munsell of Waterford; two step-children Erin Packer and Jason Guyot with ex-wife Barbara Poirier and many great friends including best friend, Andrew Blayman.

All arrangements are private. It was Stewart Hartwell’s wish that any memorial contributions be made to the New London Society of Magicians, the. Connecticut Classical Guitar Society, and the Garde Theater. 

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