John J. Stewart of Eastchester and Montauk died at Southampton Hospital on Wednesday, March 2, after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 58.
Mr. Stewart was born October 29, 1952, in Eastchester, where he lived his entire life until he retired in Montauk in 2008. He graduated from Eastchester High School in 1970 and attended Sullivan Community College until he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a member of the military police in West Germany until his honorable discharge in 1974.
Mr. Stewart was proudly sworn in to the Mt. Vernon Fire Department in 1980, serving the City of Mt. Vernon until 2008. He was a lieutenant, who was the department’s arson investigator, an emergency medical technician, and served for 15 years as a member of Rescue #1. As a member of the Mt. Vernon Fire Department, Mr. Stewart was the recipient of many commendations and citations, the last of which was a Class 1 Citation for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, entering a burning senior citizen complex before the hose line and crawling to rescue an unconscious woman in her apartment. Among his fondest memories, however, were the deliveries of two babies on two different occasions as an EMT.
A lifelong rock drummer, Mr. Stewart, along with friends, was a member of the band “Head First” playing in many venues both in Westchester County and Montauk. In Montauk, he was a member of the Friends of Erin, the Montauk Surfcasting Club, and the Amagansett American Legion Post #419. Prior to his retirement to Montauk, he hosted 4th of July parties for more than 20 years at his family home in Eastchester. As the years passed, these parties reached epic proportions and were the highlight of the summer for all his friends, but most especially for him.
Montauk was the place Mr. Stewart most wanted to be, and he was happiest on his deck, listening to the ocean and basking in the sun and salt air. A fisherman at heart, he spent many happy hours with fire department friends by the sea. He was loved by many for his sincerity, warmth and sense of humor, survivors said.
He is survived by wife Nancy; sister, Gail Marie Stewart; lifelong friends and fellow band members, Ronny Colantuono, Keith Fulsher and Frank Calderone.
Visitation was held Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6 at the Westchester Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was held Monday, March 7 at Immaculate Conception Church in Tuckahoe. Interment followed at Gate of Heaven in Valhalla.
on Mar 8, 2011