Richard B Stewart, 22 Jan 1944 - 7 May 2024, died at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville TN. Dick (Rick in his family) grew up in Erie PA with parents, William Bradley Stewart and Elizabeth Yokes Stewart. His father was an outgoing insurance agent, his mother a hard worker of German heritage. Dick played football and graduated from Ft. Laboeuf High School in Waterford, PA, a small town a few miles away from their home. He then attended University of Cincinnati where he majored in a 6-year Architecture degree. Upon graduation, he went to work in the insurance industry, using his degree to evaluate fire and other risks for factories and commercial buildings. From this he built a very successful career in the insurance industry.
Dick and his brother David always loved cars. Around his graduation time in 1968, Dick built a small sports car and was involved in racing. Unfortunately, in a race, the car front-end malfunctioned and he was involved in a lifethreatening wreck. His left arm was mangled and after a couple of weeks had to be amputated. He made the most of his life, given he did it with his right arm. For many years after, he and his long-time friend Al Adams attended NASCAR races around the country. He always loved 6-speed cars and was only persuaded to give up a stick shift many years later when his knees were failing.
Dick married Susan Oleson Stewart in December, 1968 after his accident in April. They went on to live in a number of places with his career, and enjoyed traveling as well. Susan died of cancer at age 45 in March, 1993 in Louisville KY. They had no children.
In late 1994, Dick married Carolyn Mullins (Tucker) Stewart. They met in Louisville through business friends. In the absence of his own children, he was very good to her son, Chris Tucker, who later lived with them in CA.
Through his career, Dick held many upper-management positions in the insurance field in RI, OH, FL, and most often Louisville, KY. He last held the title of Executive Vice President for Keenan & Associates of Torrance, CA. His forte was structuring and putting into place profitable, often intricate, business deals. In business, Dick always wore a prosthetic arm because he did not want to be considered “handicapped.”
Boating was a big passion for him, which he participated in in KY, TN, CA and later FL. He and Carolyn (a reluctant boater) did “the Great Circle” in 2001-2, a distance of 6000 miles from their home in FL. After 2005, they enjoyed RV’ing with friends and they traveled to the NE and to CA. In both, he was an avid “planner and scheduler.” No heading out for parts unknown without a plan!
In 2007, he and Carolyn moved back “home” to Jackson TN near Carolyn’s family. He renewed his musical interest from his younger years (when he and his barbershop quartet sang on the floor of the State Legislature) by singing tenor in the Northside Church choir. He and Carolyn continued to travel by RV until 2015, often going back in the winter months to visit friends in FL. In December, 2023 he became ill with Covid and flu, leading to a five-month decline and a diagnosis of cancer in mid-March, 2024. While his death after a short hospital stay was unexpected, we thank the Lord for cutting short his suffering and for the extraordinary and compassionate care he received in the Vanderbilt SICU.
Surviving family members are spouse Carolyn Mullins Stewart of Jackson TN; brother David Stewart and his wife Nancy of Erie PA; niece Michelle Stewart of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, step-son Chris Tucker of Medina TN; step-grandson, Kelon Tucker of Dyer, TN; sister-in-law Rita Mullins Sellers and husband Larry of Bradford TN and their children, Misty Sellers Kirkland (James), Mindy Sellers Nichols (Jake) and Matthew Sellers (Brittney).
His Memorial Service will be held Sat, June 1, at the Chapel at Northside Church, 2571 N. Highland Ave, Jackson TN 38305. Visitation will be 12:30-2:00 p.m. with the Service at 2:00. The Chapel entrance is on the south side of the church.
Nashville Cremation Center is honored to be entrusted with handling Mr. Stewart's arrangements. Please visit his guestbook to leave a thoughtful note for the family.
