Stephen Wessler

BAR HARBOR – Stephen Wessler of Bar Harbor, Maine, a life-long advocate for civil and human rights, died on March 10, 2025, at the age of 73, after living with Alzheimer’s disease. He was surrounded by family and friends and was at peace.

Steve grew up in Cambridge, Mass., and St. Louis, Mo., and attended Harvard College and Boston University School of Law. He worked for two decades at the Maine Attorney General’s office where he launched and directed a civil rights enforcement unit. Steve founded the Center for Preventing Hate in Portland and later worked as an independent advocate and educator countering hate, discrimination and violence in Maine and around the U.S. and the world.

Steve found beauty in nature, great novels, jazz and his family. He is survived by his sons, their partners, and his granddaughters; his brothers and their spouses; his partner; his two former spouses; his niece and nephews and their families; and dear friends who, to Steve, were family too.

Donations in his honor should be made to:

Preble Street

(preblestreet.org) or to:

the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ilapmaine.org)