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RICHARD G. “DICK” STEWART • SAINT ALBANS
St. Albans - Richard “Dick” Stewart, 75, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2016. He was born on April 2, 1941, in Burlington, VT to Robert and Georgiana (Swan) Stewart.
Dick graduated from BFA Fairfax in 1959 where he was a gifted multi-sport athlete. His career basketball scoring record of 1,202 points held for 45 years. After high school he attended Johnson State College, graduating in 1963 with a BS in Education. He received his Master’s in Educational Administration from Johnson in 1978.
Dick began an Educational career that spanned nearly 50 years. As a Teacher and Coach in Cabot and Milton, Principal and Superintendent in Milton, Arlington, Fairfax and Fair Haven. He officiated soccer, basketball and baseball for much of his career. In 1989 he received the Robert F. Pierce Award as Vermont Secondary Principal of the year, in 1991 he was inducted into the Johnson State College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1992 the Vermont Soccer Officials Association named the Outstanding Official Award the “Dick Stewart Official of the year Award”, He was inducted into the Vermont Headmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
It is impossible to quantify the impact he had on the tens of thousands of students, athletes and peers he influenced during his career. He could communicate with everyone regardless of social class, athletic or academic ability. The “Tougher” the kid the more he tried and they are the ones with the greatest respect for him. To this day they champion him as a man who was “Tough but Fair” and most of all that he believed in them. There is no greater praise for an educator than that.
Richard married Susan (Blake) Stewart in 1959. They were happily married for 57 years. A high school romance that lasted a lifetime. For Dick, love of family was the driving force his whole life. They were blessed with four boys and everything he did was for family. He had a legendary work ethic, yet somehow he always made time for a game of hoops, round of golf or homework question.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Georgiana Stewart, Siblings Barbara Popple, Robert Stewart and Douglas Stewart, Daughter in law Jayne Stewart and Grandson Michael Johnson.
Dick is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan Stewart of St. Albans; his sons Robert and wife Jean Harvey of South Burlington, VT; Bruce and wife Lori of South Windsor, CT, Timothy and wife Joy of Sunderland, VT; Michael and wife Michelle of Goffstown, NH. He is also survived by grandchildren Sabrina Stewart, Theresa Murray and husband Daniel Murray, Connor Stewart, Nicholas Stewart, Zack Stewart, Samuel Stewart, Will Stewart, Shawn Stewart and Aiden Stewart. “Pop” is also survived by 5 great-grandchildren, Ava Gagner, Leilah Johnson, Isaac Stewart, Elijah Murray and Finnegan Murray.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Thursday, September 29th, 2016, from 1:00 to 4:00 and 5:30 to 8:00 PM at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans.
A memorial service will be held at Friday September 30th, at 11:00 A.M at the Church of the Rock, 1091 Fairfax Road, St. Albans, with a reception at the church from 12:00 to 2:00. Followed by a private burial service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Richard G. Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund, 529 East Arlington Road, Arlington, VT 05250 to continue his life’s work of helping children succeed in life.
Condolences may be left on Richard Stewart’s online guest book at www.healdfuneralhome.com (http://www.healdfuneralhome.com).