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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-11-11</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STRIDE RITE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SRR</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189978</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SILVERMAN GERRALD B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>28 SHERBROOK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEWTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02458</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>President, The Keds Corp.</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-11</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>15000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0.2500</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>19828.0000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-11</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>15000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>11.6536</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>4828.0000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option (Option to Buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>0.2500</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-11-11</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>15000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0.2500</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2005-02-10</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>15000.0000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>0.0000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Options granted pursuant to The Stride Rite Corporation 1975 Executive Incentive Stock Option Plan.  Options are immediately exercisable and restrictions regarding the ownership of the underlying stock lapse on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: /s/ Charles W. Redepenning</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-11-11
0
0000094887
STRIDE RITE CORP
SRR
0001189978
SILVERMAN GERRALD B
28 SHERBROOK ROAD
NEWTON
MA
02458
0
1
0
0
President, The Keds Corp.
Common Stock, $.25 par value
2003-11-11
4
M
0
15000
0.2500
A
19828.0000
D
Common Stock, $.25 par value
2003-11-11
4
S
0
15000
11.6536
D
4828.0000
D
Stock Option (Option to Buy)
0.2500
2003-11-11
4
M
0
15000
0.2500
D
2005-02-10
Common Stock, $.25 par value
15000.0000
0.0000
D
Options granted pursuant to The Stride Rite Corporation 1975 Executive Incentive Stock Option Plan.  Options are immediately exercisable and restrictions regarding the ownership of the underlying stock lapse on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant.
By: /s/ Charles W. Redepenning
2003-11-12