Obituary of Gregory T. Stewart

Gregory T. Stewart, 73, of Jamestown passed away in his home on Friday, March 12, 2021, after a brief battle with esophageal cancer. Born August 17, 1947 in Fort Bragg, NC, Greg was the son of the late Frederick Stewart and Margaret "Dee" Trainor Stewart Stevenson Baker. After attending high school, Greg served in the US Army from 1964 to 1967 and following his deployment, finished his service proudly as a photographer at the White Sands Missile Base. Following his military duty, he graduated from Jamestown Community College and SUNY Fredonia, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. Greg's first vast, post-military career began with his practice as an educator, first as an elementary teacher in the Geneseo School District (1977-78), then at BOCES in Ashville, NY, where he relocated to be closer to his son Fred. In Jamestown, Greg found his eye for optometry, and held positions with Sterling Optical and Pearl Vision while he pursued his optician's license. In 1983, Greg found a greater calling to join the Jamestown Fire Department, first as a firefighter and subsequently as an EMT. Greg was also a life member of the fire department's Morton Club, serving on the Board of Directors for multiple years, until his retirement from the department in 1996. Throughout his professional career, Greg had many dear friends with whom he shared a lifetime of memories, beginning with a period in the 1980's where they entertained courageous attendees on Jamestown's karaoke stages. When not working or passing time with his friends and family, Greg could either be found working around the house, working around the house, or working around the house, as he was never without something that (he believed) needed fixed, improved or replaced. After retirement, Greg could usually be found at local golf courses, working toward an impressive handicap before he found a love for traveling the world by cruise ship, with his wife or his brothers. Greg's over 20 cruises took him from Alaska to Bermuda, from the Bahama's to the Panama Canal and many places in between. Greg is survived by his wife, Barbara Rissel Newhall Stewart, whom he married March 10, 1979; three children: Frederick (Brenda) Stewart of Sarasota, FL, and John Newhall III and Jeffrey Stewart, both of Jamestown; two granddaughters, Samantha Stewart and Olivia Newhall; two brothers: David Stewart of Lynnwood, WA and Paul (Carol) Stevenson of Jamestown; brother-in-law Jim (Sharon) Rissel of Jamestown; several nieces, nephews and cousins; as well as his former wife, Marcia Olson of Florida. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert "Bob" Stewart; daughter-in-law, Jennifer Newhall; and sister-in-law, Consuelo Stewart. A walk-through visitation will take place from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm on Thursday March 18th at Lind Funeral Home 805 West Third St., Jamestown NY, followed by a private family service. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to The Resource Center, 200 Dunham Ave., Jamestown, NY 14701; or Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.