Craig Peter Stuart-Paul passed suddenly while hiking in Hrafntinnusker, Iceland, on July 26, 2025. He was with the love of his life, Tracey, and close friends.
Born on April 14, 1965, in Ely, Great Britain, to Sir Ronald and Lady Stuart-Paul. He moved to Maryland in 1988 and met Tracey in 1989, they were married in 1993 and moved to Catonsville and had 2 children, Connor in 1995 and Evan in 1998.
Craig lived a life of adventure and travel from an early age. His father, an RAF officer, was stationed in Cyprus, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and in multiple postings across the United Kingdom.
Craig’s entrepreneurial flair surfaced early. While boarding at Culford School in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, he secretly ran a used car sales business—moving the cars in the parking lot in the middle of the night so his teachers wouldn’t notice their presence. For this enterprise, he won a “Young Businessman of the Year” award from a national bank.
At Brighton University, he studied business, graduating in 1984. After college, he worked for the Parker Pen Company and Securicor and invested in real estate. With the proceeds, he seeded his move to the United States, and in 1988, founded the British Brewing Company—the first microbrewery in Maryland. From there, he founded Resource Recovery, a glass-crushing business, and took over Fairfax Recovery a recycling company that expanded to six locations in the Mid-Atlantic region. He sold that company and went on to found Atlantic Recycling, a paper-to-insulation process that led to Fiberight LLC, which developed innovative mixed-waste-to-energy projects in Virginia, Iowa, and Maine. Never one to overlook an opportunity, he invested in commercial real estate and acquired Sisson’s Restaurant from the original Sisson’s family, helping to operate the popular Cross Street pub. Most recently, he had been working to restart the recycling project he’d founded in Maine.
In addition to his business ventures, Craig found time to give back to his community. He was a beloved coach of youth soccer in Catonsville and an active participant in the Episcopal church, serving several roles on the vestry and as Senior Warden at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City. For several years, he wrote and directed the annual Christmas pageant at the church to great—and hilarious—acclaim.
Craig had many hobbies and interests that kept him extraordinarily busy and active. An accomplished scuba diver, he was a Dive Master and helped certify many divers. He traveled often to see underwater life; recent trips included Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, and Egypt. He also used his diving skills locally, helping keep the dolphin tank at the National Aquarium clean.
A longtime member of Rolling Road Golf Club, Craig always followed the rules of golf—much to the chagrin of his fellow golfers. He never missed an opportunity to golf and enjoyed annual trips with friends. He left golf balls in many places, including Scotland, Utah, Texas, and the Carolinas.
He loved to ski and cherished time spent on the slopes. Annual trips to Utah with a house full of family and friends brought Craig immense joy.
He kept an impeccable lawn—the envy of his neighbors. He had a passion for fast cars and was once told to “drive it like you stole it,” which he took quite literally. He loved to cook British delicacies—he made the best Beef Wellington, gravy, and Brussels sprouts. He referred to potatoes as “the hallowed tuber.” He recently celebrated his 60th birthday during Masters weekend with a party that included a chipping competition and his favorite Indian takeout. He had a lifelong love of good beer and would not allow light beer in his presence. He also knew his way around a wine list, to the delight of his family and friends.
Craig appreciated every moment, enjoying the best of what life had to offer. He had seven adventures still on his calendar, booked for the remainder of 2025. He loved his family with his whole heart.
He is survived by his wife, Tracey; his father, Sir Ronald Stuart-Paul; his sister, Rowena Dickerson (Hugh Dickerson); his children, Connor Stuart-Paul (Elizabeth Clark) and Evan Stuart-Paul; his sisters-in-law, Sherry Williams, Lesley Luciani, and Katherine Kelley (Dan Kelley); and his nephews, Jack and Findlay Dickerson, and Bryce Kelley; his cousins Nigel Kay (Hannah Kay) and Alison Johnson (Ben Johnson). His mother, Lady Stuart-Paul, predeceased him in February 2025.
A celebration of life will be held at Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 233 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, on Saturday, August 16th, 2025 at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, raise a glass to Craig and make a memorial contribution to Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 309 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, in his name.