It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that longtime Strawberry volunteer and friend, Stan Stratton, passed away last week.
It has been difficult to find the words for this message and to acknowledge this unexpected loss. Stan was unable to attend this past festival, which was the first one he had missed since his first in 1991, because his camper van broke down and could not carry him to us from his home in Springfield, Oregon. None of us could imagine that there would not be another opportunity to share a Strawberry hug with our dear friend, to delight in the fresh strawberries or the homemade fudge (made using his grandmother’s recipe) that Stan would pass out at our festival staff meetings on Wednesday night, to admire the collection of wristbands he wore proudly affixed to his signature beret, or to hear one of many epic Strawberry stories that—like Stan—bettered with age.
To say that Stan was personally invested in the Strawberry festival family would be an understatement. Besides being a supportive ally year-round to his festival friends, he had endeavored to photo document most, if not all, festival camp banners. These photographs can be found in the Camp Photo Gallery available for all to enjoy on the Strawberry website. His contributions to the Strawberry experience through his work with the Camping Assistance crew, and as a force for good within our music loving community, are too numerous to name and will not be forgotten.
Our deepest condolences go out to Stan’s family and friends, as we hold you all in the sacred space of one loving Strawberry heart. We will imagine Stan’s spirit with our other lost loved ones in that big beautiful festival in the sky where, eventually, we all hope to continue to revel in love, laughter, peace-making, nature, frivolity, and music.
Here’s to you, and the life you lived, dearest Stan!
