Obituary for Mr. Stuart Michael Ginsburg

Stuart Ginsburg of Fairfield, the much loved husband and best friend of Laurie Orlando, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 23, 2021, at the age of 76, surrounded by his loving family and the thoughts and warm recollections of countless friends.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on April 30, 1945 to Ethel Klar Ginsburg, a medical secretary, and Leo Ginsburg, a sergeant with the New York Police Department. Stu was a true son of the borough—he and younger sister Linda were raised in a rowhouse on East 86th Street in East Flatbush, a street that staged roller skating, bike riding, and endless games of punchball.
Writing was Stu's professional craft, honed as an undergraduate at Syracuse University and on the pages of the newspaper he and friends published on Cape Cod during the summers, often bartering advertising space for fresh caught lobster and other local delicacies.

Music was an early passion—fuelled by his first post-college job writing for Creem, the irreverent tabloid monthly that documented the likes of the Stooges, Lou Reed, George Clinton, Deep Purple, and Alice Cooper.

Lou Reed was also among those he promoted and publicized—along with Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr, the Kinks, Jefferson Airplane, Linda Rondstat, and Dolly Parton—during a distinguished and sometimes wild career that spanned RCA Records, Capitol Records, Atlantic Records, and Ear Candy Records.

He met Laurie when they both worked at the cable television network Showtime. They were married in 1994 in the chapel of their beloved Syracuse University—a blue and orange baseball cap was a near permanent fixture on Stu's head, particularly when March Madness came around.
Music remained a lifelong passion, accompanied by travel, food—no fresh-from-the-oven dish safe from pre-dinner burglaries—fine tequila, and roaming Saturday morning estate and garage sales with fellow junk collector and good friend John Hopkinson. He was an avid reader, crossword puzzle enthusiast, and deadly serious Scrabble player.

He will be remembered forever by Laurie, his sister Linda Ginsburg of Plantation, Florida, and his three wonderful, amazing children: son Matt Ginsburg and his wife Dana Mandel of Boston; daughter Wendy Macomber and her husband Luke Macomber of Milford; and son Leo Orlando of Fairfield.

His wit and a sense of humor that drew both laughter and raised eyebrows will leave an indelible mark on many, including his mother-in-law Carol Orlando of Sarasota, Florida; sister-in-law Christine Orlando and her husband Joe Budd of Fairfield; and brother-in-law Charley Orlando and his wife Laurie Woodworth of Syracuse.

Stu loved children and they adored him. He was Grumpy or Grandpa to Sophia Ginsburg, Nathan Ginsburg, Cole Macomber, and Finn Macomber, and Uncle Peaches to Emma Budd, Grace Budd, Alex Padula, Kayla Knox Douglas, Kinley Douglas, Blake Douglas, and Jack Douglas.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the memorial service and burial, which will be held at 2 pm Friday, July 23 at Oaklawn Cemetery, 1530 Bronson Road, Fairfield, Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you support the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York Widows and Children's Fund, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and the Will to Live Foundation.