<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STRIDE RITE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SRR</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222768</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHARLES PETER J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>46 POTTER POND</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEXINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02421</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Sr. VP/Gen Mgr. Sourcing</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option (Option to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>11.1000</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-15</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>30000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-12-15</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>30000.0000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>30000.0000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Options vest as to one-third on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Charles W. Redepenning</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-12-15
0
0000094887
STRIDE RITE CORP
SRR
0001222768
CHARLES PETER J
46 POTTER POND
LEXINGTON
MA
02421
0
1
0
0
Sr. VP/Gen Mgr. Sourcing
Stock Option (Option to Buy)
11.1000
2003-12-15
4
A
0
30000
0
A
2013-12-15
Common Stock, $.25 par value
30000.0000
30000.0000
D
Options vest as to one-third on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.
By: Charles W. Redepenning
2003-12-16