Two decades of service to Cranston
From the School Committee to the City Council to the fields of Westbay Farm, Steve Stycos has spent his life in service to the community.
Steve has called Cranston home since 1984. He has raised a family here, volunteered across its neighborhoods, and served its residents in public office for more than twenty years.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Steve grew up in Ithaca, New York, where his father was a sociology professor and his mother a volunteer coordinator. In 1977 he graduated cum laude with a degree in history from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
After moving to Cranston in 1984, Steve threw himself into community life, serving as president of his son's PTO and of the Cranston Educational Advisory Board. With friends he founded Friends of the Pawtuxet, organizing canoe trips, hikes, and cleanups along the Pawtuxet River, and helped launch the Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market.
Steve recently retired after sixteen years running Westbay Farm in Warwick, where every year he grew thousands of pounds of fresh, organic vegetables and fruit for local food pantries — putting his values of service and stewardship to work in the soil.
He is married to Christine Herbert, a physician. They have two adult children.
A record of results
Steve served ten years on the Cranston School Committee and ten years on the City Council, including four as chair of the Finance Committee. In 2020 he ran for mayor.
Secured additional funding for the public schools, the Cranston Arts Council, and Head Start.
Started Cranston's tree-planting program and two community gardens.
Created the city's first dog park and championed shared public spaces.
As chair of the Finance Committee, Steve scrutinized every line and asked the hard questions.