Media Release

For Immediate Release

March 9, 2009

Saint Mary’s mourns loss of Father Stewart

Father William Arthur Stewart, S.J., arrived at Saint Mary's in 1950 and served the University community for the next 48 years While at Saint Mary's, Father Stewart served the university in a variety of roles including Professor of Philosophy, Librarian, Prefect of Studies, Moderator of the Dramatic Society, Academic Vice-president and Professor Emeritus. In this photo, he shares memories with former Dean of Arts Dr. Mike Larsen. Father Stewart was well known as Santa Claus at the annual staff and faculty Christmas parties. Father Stewart also played a key role at convocations. Pictured here at the spring ceremony in 1996, he lead many such processions as generations of students graduated from Saint Mary's. Pictured here with former Saint Mary's University President Dr. Kenneth L. Ozmon, Father Stewart helped break ground for the construction of the new Sobey Building in 1996.

The flag in front of Saint Mary’s University will be lowered to half mast this Wednesday to mark the funeral of Father William Arthur Stewart, S.J., a man beloved for his humanity and for faithfully serving the Saint Mary’s University community for nearly five decades.

According to an announcement in today’s Chronicle-Herald, Father Stewart died at home (René Goupil House, Pickering, Ontario) on March 5 after only a few hours of feeling unwell. He was 93, in his 72nd year as a Jesuit and 60th year as a priest.

Born in Montreal in 1915, Father Stewart came to Saint Mary’s in 1950 when the university was still located on Windsor Street (where the present St. Vincent guesthouse is now). At the time, Saint Mary’s had a total college population was 188 students.

For the next 48 years he served the university in a variety of roles including Professor of Philosophy, Librarian, Prefect of Studies, Moderator of the Dramatic Society, Academic Vice-president and Professor Emeritus. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Saint Mary's as well as Regis College (Toronto).

In recognition of his contribution to the University, the Saint Mary’s University Alumni Association established a teaching award in Father Stewart’s name in 1983. Each year, the Father William A. Stewart, S.J., Medal for Excellence in Teaching is presented to a Saint Mary’s professor who has gone above and beyond call of duty for students both inside and outside the classroom.

In 1998, Father Stewart was assigned to a ministry of prayer at René Goupil House in Pickering. His affectionate personality, his creative intellect and his patient tranquility will be missed by many.

A wake and prayers for Father Stewart will be held Tuesday, March 10, in St. Ignatius Chapel, Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre, 2325 Liverpool Road North, in Pickering. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated in the St. Ignatius Chapel on Wednesday, March 11, at 11 a.m. with interment in Jesuit Cemetery in Guelph at 3 p.m.

Donations in memory of Father Stewart may be made to Jesuit Development Office, 43 Queen's Park Cres. East, Toronto, ON, M5S 2C3.

Father Stewart was interviewed in 1993 for the Saint Mary’s University Archives’ Oral History Project. Topics explored in the interview include: the Windsor Street campus, the university’s move to the present Gorsebrook campus, academic programs, the Jesuits, introduction of women to the University, secularization, unionization, student protests, age, extra-curricular activities, and the ethnic background of students.

The full transcript of the interview can be viewed at: http://www.smu.ca/admini
stration/archives/oral/
stewart_w.html

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For More Information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca