Charles F. Stewart Jr. passed away peacefully on Nov. 11 from complications of Parkinson’s disease, surrounded by his loving family. He was 83.
Charles F. Stewart Jr., 83, passed away on Nov. 11. A memorial service is expected in the spring
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on May 30, 1933, the son of Charles F. and Elinor (Leudinghaus) Stewart. He graduated from University School, Shaker Heights, OH and Colgate University in 1956. Following graduation from college he served in the US Army in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1956-1958.
He lived in Darien while working as an executive director for The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in Manhattan for 28 years, retiring in 1998. His work involved traveling the world. He worked previously for US Steel and AIME.
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— an obituary from Chadwick Funeral and Cremation Service
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Charlie played tennis, loved to ski, enjoyed many bare boat sailing trips with Pat and friends, and twice crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a 54-foot Hylas sloop. He also played regular games of “bad golf.” Though he was a tremendously practical man, he also had a great sense of adventure and a wickedly dry sense of humor.
In 1998 Charlie hung up his suit and enthusiastically traded it for jeans, a tractor and a horse. He and Pat moved to their new home Make Believe Farm in Wilmot, N.H. While living there, he served as vice chairman of the Zoning Board and volunteered for Habitat For Humanity.
For many years Charlie was a ski instructor at Mount Sunapee. He also rediscovered his passion for horses. He was a committed rider and jumper, and loved all aspects of working with horses. When Parkinson’s disease eventually prevented him from riding, he learned to drive a horse and cart and work the horses on a long line.
He also avidly followed the pursuits of his adored grandchildren Stewart and Seth Bird, and Grace Charles Stewart.
He used to say, “our family may not be large in size, but we are big in our love for each other.”
He is survived by his wife of 55 years Patricia (Henshaw) Stewart of New London, N.H.; two daughters, Tracey, and her husband Thomas Bird of Concord, Mass., and Lisa Stewart of Venice, Ca.; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2017. Donations in his memory may be made to Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice P.O. Box 2209 New London, NH 03257 or The New London Hospital 273 County