Wilson, 70, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.

By Ronni Newton

Tracey Wilson may have retired from teaching, but she never stopped educating. And while her death on Sunday leaves a huge hole in her family and for those the community who grieve the loss of her physical presence, the inspiring legacy of her contributions will live on far into the future.

Wilson, 70, lived with metastatic melanoma for more than eight years, and although at times her health slowed her down, she continued her work in the community well after retiring in 2015 from her long-time job as a history teacher at Conard High School.

Chronicling Wilson’s contributions could fill volumes, and indeed in 2018 she published “Life in West Hartford,” a compilation of more than 140 essays that she originally wrote over the course of 15 years for the news magazine “West Hartford LIFE.” Those essays were a reflection of the way Wilson taught history – not just focusing on what happened in the past, but on the “why” and “how” the past shaped the current day.

Tracey Wilson at a book signing. Courtesy photo

In the forward to “Life in West Hartford,” Wilson asked readers to think about the context of the essays and how they define the values of the community. “What events included all types of people? Which events excluded people? Which reinforced who had power and which gave power to those who didn’t have it before? Whose voices were heard? ….”

Among the courses Wilson taught at Conard were AP U.S. History, Local History, and African American History. She used primary sources rather than textbooks and – speaking personally here as the mother of two of Wilson’s former students – she taught her students not just facts but how to think critically.

Wilson, who grew up in Granby, was one of the first women to enroll at Trinity College, where she also played squash, tennis, and lacrosse. She began her teaching career in West Hartford at Talcott Junior High and both she and Liz Devine started teaching together at Conard High School in 1978. Devine transferred to Hall in 1982, but the two taught the same courses across town and continued to collaborate, even after both retired in 2015 and launched the Witness Stones and Hidden History projects in West Hartford.

Dr. Tracey Wilson speaks with students and others at Old Center Cemetery in October 2018. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Devine considered Wilson her mentor as well as one of her closest friends as they worked together arranging field trips including two trips to South Africa and brought in speakers to reflect a variety of perspectives.

“She was such a force, and she had grace,” said Devine on Monday. “She was forceful but in a gentle way,” which Devine said was important in the classroom because she was never judgmental with her students.

“She listened to them, and they knew that she wanted to hear their voices. She trusted her students,” and wanted their voices to amplify the history, Devine said.

And, added Devine,”She was a historian to the core.” When examining primary source documents, the minute Wilson took her glasses off to look more closely, she and Denise deMello, also their partner in leading West Hartford’s Witness Stones and Hidden History projects, knew Wilson had found something.

“She always talked about data with a soul,” said Devine. Wilson was filled with “passion, courage, and advocacy,” she said.

In Old Center Cemetery in West Hartford, the witness stones that have been placed in recognition of West Hartford’s formerly enslaved will also be a permanent legacy to Wilson’s work in telling their stories.

Retired educators (from left) Denise deMello, Elizabeth Devine, and Town Historian Tracey Wilson with some of the witness stones in Old Center Cemetery. Photo credit: Lisa Brisson (we-ha.com file photo)

After committing to their relationship through a civil union in 2006, Wilson and Beth Bye were the first gay couple in the state to marry. They officially exchanged their vows in a ceremony officiated by fellow West Hartford resident and then-state Sen. Jonathan Harris on Nov. 12, 2008 – the day that same sex marriage became legal in Connecticut. In the fall of 2016 Bye stepped down from a leadership role with the legislature in order to support Wilson during her initial cancer treatments when at the time she was given just months to live, but Wilson rallied, and lived for many more years. Recently, as Wilson’s health declined, Bye took a temporary leave of absence from her role as commissioner of Connecticut’s Office of Early Childhood to again support her wife.

State Sen. Beth Bye (left) and her wife, Tracey Wilson, handed out red roses on Nov. 12, 2018, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Marriage Equality Day and their own 10th wedding anniversary. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

“She just lived til she died,” Bye told We-Ha.com on Monday. “She would never say she was fighting cancer. She wasn’t fighting her body. She was living with cancer.”

Wilson attended the town’s Martin Luther King celebration last month because that was very important to her, and Bye said Wilson continued working on projects that were meaningful to her, such as the town’s forthcoming 250th celebration of the Declaration of Independence, even when she was no longer physically able to walk to her desk.

“We’re just so grateful for the outpouring of support from people around town. This community has been so wonderful,” Bye said. “She loved this community because it’s so connected, and as been so supportive of the family.”

Wilson and Bye’s blended family included four children and three brothers, as well as multiple in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. In 2023, she also proudly became a grandmother.

Bye shared the sad news of Wilson’s passing on Facebook on Sunday evening. By Monday afternoon, more than 850 had shared their condolences and comments about Wilson’s impact on their lives.

Wilson’s obituary notes the many contributions to West Hartford, collaborations with students and other community members. They include: “adding Prut’s name to the War Memorial, renaming Dinah Road, the Blue Back Civil Rights Mural, Unity Green, a Lemeul Haynes memorial, and placing witness stones for more than 60 enslaved residents in the Town Center cemetery.” Wilson also successfully helped advocate, along with WHAASCO, for naming the town’s newest middle school for Bristow, a formerly enslaved resident who bought his freedom.

A headstone commemorating Bristow (Bristol) is next to the Witness Stones that have been installated at Old Center Cemetery in West Hartford. June 19, 2021. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

“We are truly grateful for the amazing gift of Tracey’s life,” said West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor.

Wilson was named West Hartford Town Historian in 2004. “She inspired so many students as an educator and mentor. As Town Historian she enlightened, challenged and celebrated our community and we are all better because of her efforts. Her spirit and impact will be long lasting,” Cantor said.

In 2023, Wilson accepted the Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Noah Webster Award – in recognition of her extraordinary commitment to the town – and in her acceptance speech said, “As Town Historian, my commitment to the town is to tell the most accurate story of the past that I can, and to engage community members with that history,” including information that some people don’t want to hear.

“As an educator and historian, I strive to update and amplify stories that that been missing and this can change the narrative,” Wilson said in 2023. She said the Witness Stones tell a more complicated Colonial story, that has never been told.

“The West Hartford Chamber is deeply saddened by the passing of our esteemed colleague, Tracey Wilson,” said Chamber President and CEO Chris Conway and Director of Programming Kate Kobs. “Her tireless dedication to education, preserving history, and advancing equality made a lasting impact on our community. Her legacy will continue inspire us all. The Chamber proudly celebrated Tracey’s extraordinary commitments to West Hartford as the recipient of the 2023 Noah Webster Award.”

Tracey Wilson was the 2023 recipient of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Noah Webster Award. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

In 2017, an elm tree was planted in Wilson’s honor in Elmwood. Wilson said at the time that the planting and dedication of the elm tree represents “a symbol in history, a community event, and a tool for educating us about liberty in a democracy.” Never missing the opportunity to fit in a history lesson, at the dedication she said that “Liberty trees” – the elms that gave “Elmwood” its name – were planted in celebration on the very same property on which everyone stood that day, which at the time was owned by Ebenezer Faxon.

Following the dedication, everyone was asked to water the tree to give it sustenance. Dr. Tracey Wilson (left), Jenn DiCola Matos, and Beth Bye gave it the first ladlefuls. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Chuck Coursey, a longtime West Hartford resident and community leader, a former deputy mayor and friend of Wilson, launched the history-related “Trout Brook Trails” podcast in 2024. Wilson was one of his first guests.

“I am so grateful to have had Tracey Wilson in my life,” Coursey said in a post on Facebook when he learned of Wilson’s death. “While we mourn her passing, she has given her community so many gifts that will be enjoyed by generations to come. A tireless advocate for the underserved, her legacy will continue to teach us that everyone matters and belongs. I am especially grateful that she was always eager to feed my appetite for West Hartford and US history. I will miss her dearly.”

Devine was among family and friends who spent hours with Wilson last week, as she entered hospice care. They spoke at length, and Devine Wilson never stopped teaching, and also gave her final instructions. “I’m so glad to have had that time with her,” she said.

“For her it was about voice. We needed to hear the voices that never got heard and she leaves that legacy,” said Devine. At Wilson’s request, her papers will be kept at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.

The work that Wilson, Devine, and deMello have been collaborating on will continue as well. Devine said while it won’t be the same, they will continue “because she told us we have to.”

“I’ll miss her terribly,” Devine said.

Plans are being finalized for a March 6 memorial service in West Hartford as well as a celebration of Wilson’s life at West Hartford Town Hall.

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