Obituary - Mary Ann Stewart
In Memoriam
Mary Ann (Campbell) Stewart
by Robert A. Locke, Jr.
On September 1, 2008, our President Emeritus, Mary Ann Stewart, departed this life peacefully and in the company of her family at the Masonic Health Care Center in Wallingford, CT. She was born February 6, 1918, in Williamsport, PA to Walter and Florence (Hunt) Campbell. On August 12, 1937, in South Salem, NY, she married David Livingston Stewart, Jr. (11 Nov 1916-1 May 1990), a cousin of my grandfather (William Henry Jones, Jr., 28 Jun 1908-29 Sep 1989). She has been interred with her husband at the Woodland Cemetery in Stamford, CT. She is survived by their two children, David L. Stewart, III, his wife Carole (Mercer), Mary Ann (Stewart) Netland, and her husband John; four grandchildren, David L. Stewart, IV, Elizabeth (Stewart) Bridge, Tricia (Netland) Wencel, and Janna (Netland) Lover; four great-grandchildren, Macie and Cloe Bridge, Campbell and Isaac Wencel; and two brothers, Walter and John Campbell. She is predeceased by her husband, David L. Stewart, Jr., and sister, Doris (Campbell) Ackerman.
Mary Ann was involved in numerous organizations as a member of the Methodist Church of Springdale, the Stamford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Angell Husted Chapter of the Daughters of the American Colonists, the National Society United States Daughters Of 1812, State of Connecticut, and President Emeritus of the Ashlar Village Association.
Of course we knew her best, most recently serving, as President Emeritus of our own Connecticut Ancestry Society. Reviewing past journals, we see her first listed as our President Emeritus in the November 1992 edition, when she moved from her home in Stamford to Ashlar Village in Wallingford, CT. She was Queries Editor for a couple of years before being elected President of our Society at the annual meeting in May of 1989, jumping in as our name was changed from Stamford Genealogical Society to Connecticut Ancestry Society that summer. She was the epitome of the objectives of this Society, as she wrote in her first Presidential column in this journal:
“The Society will be dedicated as always to the objectives stated in our by-laws: To locate, preserve and index public and private genealogical records and make such records and collections available to members and to the general public; to acquire genealogical and historical materials and contribute them to public libraries and historical or genealogical organizations; to encourage and instruct our members in the art and practice of genealogical research and compilation; and maintain and elevate genealogical standards.”
As Bob Ferry, one of our esteemed past Editors, recalls, Mary Ann was a true LADY. She held meetings at her home in North Stamford with grace and good organization. She was not only an effective leader of the Society but a constant help to all members. As editor, Bob appreciated that she was always on the lookout for Connecticut information to share through our journal.
Aunt Mary Ann loved our society and wanted all of us to become ACTIVE members and to brag about the society to our friends, so they can all share in becoming part of this wonderful organization. It was her urging that convinced me to join several years ago. I will always remember a person who shared my passion for genealogy and kept wanting to share that passion with everyone. We will all greatly miss her guidance and joy in genealogical pursuits.