Stephen Christopher Worth

1951 - 2024

Stephen Christopher Worth

NORTHFIELD, MA - Stephen Christopher Worth, 72, of Northfield, MA, passed away at home on March 25, 2024, following complications of septicemia.

Christopher was born in Seattle, WA on August 7, 1951. The family moved, first to Kansas, then Connecticut, Delaware and finally Chelmsford, MA, where he graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1966. He ran track, competing in hurdles, high jump, and cross country. He attended the University of Massachusetts where he ran track and occasionally went to class.

His great passions were his guitar and his motorcycle. In his younger years, Christopher toured the world with his guitar and motorcycle, bringing his big bass voice to California, Hawaii, Copenhagen, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Japan. He made friends wherever he went, including Charles Roche of Kyoto, Japan and Annie Trouve, his first wife.

Christopher settled briefly in Massachusetts where he met his wife Diane at a bar in Harvard Square, where she was serving Christopher. When she correctly answered his crossword question, he said she was smart and wondered if she'd have his children. Two years later, they married, in 1987. Benjamin Tucker Worth was born in 1989, and the small family moved to Kyoto, Japan in 1991. Christopher, at 6' 8" was "big in Japan" for more than one reason, and enjoyed sharing his music with all generations of Japanese people and visiting tourists from around the world. He frequently brought folks home to stay with his family, and made dear friends. He was named a "Neighborhood Treasure" and was featured in guide books to Kyoto. He taught many young people to play guitar and shared his music with children at Kyoto International School as well. He was loved by many, and some of his happiest days were spent in Maruyama Park in Kyoto playing and singing.

In 2000, the family returned to the US and settled in a little house by a creek. His second child, Eirnin (EJ) Worth was born in 2000. Christopher continued to make music at local venues and wrote and performed a Solar System Science show for young children at many schools in MA. The show featured his original songs "Birthday to Birthday" and "Gravity" among others. He continued to climb Mount Washington into his late 60s as he had from his youth.

In his later years he developed an interest in making knives, which he continually gave away to friends and acquaintances. He became a local knife and tool sharpener as well, often asking people to donate to the Northfield Food Pantry in lieu of payment.

Christopher leaves behind his loving wife, Diane (Kazar) of Northfield, his children Benjamin and Eirnin (EJ), his sisters Kathy Worth and Keilah Worth, brothers Kim Worth and Aaron Worth, his brother-in-law John Kazar III, mother-in-law Janet Kazar, step-mother Judith Frediani, his nephews John Henry Kazar and Jesse Speleos and his niece Cassie Barnes. He is predeceased by his parents, Jean Spearow and Steven Worth, his brother-in-law William Kazar and father-in-law John Kazar Jr.

A celebration of life will be held on August 10, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the Riverview Pavilion in Northfield, MA. Please dress comfortably and bring your memories and instruments.