Marguerite Lawrence Gray Stinchfield, known to most as Judie, died peacefully on Monday, December 13 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Judie and her late husband, Robert W. Stinchfield, were both longtime residents of New Canaan. Judie grew up in Port Washington, N.Y. She graduated from Chatham Hall School in Virginia and subsequently Katherine Gibbs School, later becoming assistant to the president of Yale University. In 1944 she married Bob Stinchfield and soon after they moved to New Canaan. Together they formed The Whitney Shop in 1947, originally a frozen food delivery service. When Bob sought more reliable employment in advertising in New York, Judie stayed on, changing the company’s focus to cuisine products and related gifts. She moved and expanded the store several times in the following years, finally settling it into its present location, 100 Elm Street. During this time, Judie was a very active member in the New Canaan community, serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce and as a Notary of the Public, as well as taking on roles on the Parking Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Garden Club. She was a founder and board member of the first hometown bank, formerly known as the New Canaan Bank and Trust. After the sudden death of her beloved husband, she was instrumental in raising funds in his memory for a new “Fly Car” to be used by first responding paramedics. Judie was a member of the Country Club of New Canaan, the Yale Club of New York, the River Club of New York, Saugatuck Beach Club of Westport, and The Burnham Woods Club of Santa Barbara, and she was an original member of the New Canaan Winter Club. For over 35 years, Judie was also a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Always sociable, she was known among her friends for her lavish entertaining style and hospitality. She is remembered as a visionary business leader who grew the Whitney Shop to what it is today. In her later years there, she focused on expanding the women’s fashion department. The rest of the business is managed by her surviving son, Chip, and her daughter-in-law, Karen. She is also survived by her daughter, Laura Carron. Judie had a zest for travel and the arts and she made many cherished trips and cultural opportunities possible for her surviving grandchildren: Katherine Stinchfield, Robert Stinchfield III, Andrew Stinchfield, Arthur Carron, Brenton Carron, and Clifford Carron. There will be a reception in her honor hosted by her son at The Whitney Shop on Monday December 20 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be private. Contributions in memory of Judie may be made to the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps.