SEC Form 4

FORM 4
[ ] Check this box if no longer
subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form
5 obligations may continue.
See Instruction 1(b).
(Print or Type Responses) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Caruso, Frank     A. (Last)                      (First)                      (Middle) 164 Claflin Street (Street) Belmont, MA     02478 (City)                      (State)                      (Zip) USA	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol The Stride Rite Corporation   SRR		6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)                         Director                           10% Owner            X          Officer                             Other           Chief Financial Officer 7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X   Form filed by One Reporting Person       Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
	3. I.R.S. Identification     Number of Reporting     Person, if an entity     (voluntary)	4. Statement for     Month/Day/Year     January 03, 2003 5. If Amendment,     Date of Original     (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1. Title of Security     (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date     (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed       Execution       Date, if any       (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction     Code     and     Voluntary     Code     (Instr. 8) Code  |  V	4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed (D) Of     (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)         Amount      |         A/D         |         Price	5. Amount of     Securities     Beneficially     Owned     Following     Reported Transaction(s)     (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Owner-     ship     Form:     Direct(D)     or     Indirect (I)     (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of      Indirect      Beneficial      Ownership     (Instr. 4)
Common Stock, $.25 par value	01/02/2003		J (1) |	995.0000   |           A           |   $6.0945	13442.0000	D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. * If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to
respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. (over)
SEC 1474 (9-02)

Caruso, Frank A. - January 03, 2003

Form 4 (continued)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security
    (Instr. 3) 2. Conver-
    sion or
    Exercise
    Price of
    Deri-
    vative
    Security 3. Transaction
    Date

    (Month/
    Day/
    Year) 3A. Deemed
      Execution
      Date, if
      any

      (Month/
      Day/
      Year) 4. Transaction
    Code
    and
    Voluntary (V)
    Code
    (Instr.8)


Code | V     5. Number of Derivative
    Securities Acquired (A)
    or Disposed (D) Of

    (Instr. 3,4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable(DE) and
    Expiration Date(ED)
    (Month/Day/Year)




  (DE)     |     (ED)   7. Title and Amount of
    Underlying Securities
    (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price
    of
    Derivative
    Security
    (Instr.5) 9. Number of
    Derivative
    Securities
    Beneficially
    Owned
    Following
    Reported
    Transactions
    (Instr.4) 10.
Owner-
ship
Form of
Deriv-
ative
Security:
Direct
(D)
or
Indirect
(I)
(Instr.4) 11. Nature of
      Indirect
      Beneficial
      Ownership
      (Instr.4)

Explanation of Responses :

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations.
        See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note:   File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient,
            see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not
required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number. By: /s/ Charles W. Redepenning               __________________
** Signature of Reporting Person                         Date

Power of Attorney

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Caruso, Frank A. - January 03, 2003

Form 4 (continued)

FOOTNOTE Descriptions for The Stride Rite Corporation SRR

Form 4 - January 2003

Frank A. Caruso
164 Claflin Street

Belmont, MA 02478

Explanation of responses:

(1)   The shares were acquired under the Stride Rite Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

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