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In memory of
Dr. Jefferson Allen Stewart
May 27, 1946 - March 24, 2021
May 27, 1946 - Mar 24, 2021
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a donation to Jeff's end of life services and celebration.
Photo
Jefferson's obituary
Young Jeff went on to Austin College, where he studied and got up to plenty of mischief with his younger brother Rod. Along the way, he spent a year at the University of Paris-Sarbonne, receiving a degree in French culture and politics and traveling across the French countryside (Legends say he drove a motorcycle off the Cliffs at Etrat as the sun rose from the sea). He made his way to the Goethe Institute in Germany where he studied religion and culture, finally receiving an undergraduate degree from Austin College, majoring in French Literature, with minors in German Literature, English, Physics, and Math.
He then moved to New York City soon after where he dove into the burgeoning hippie culture, dabbling in leatherwork, slam poetry, modern dance, and music. He could regale us with stories seeing Jimi and Janice jamming in Greenwich, where he called home, or being forced to wear tights for the first time in a dance class with Martha Graham, learning to partner dance with modern dance marvel, Merce Cunningham, or staying up till the sun rose, wandering from bars to diners to parks along the rivers, chatting with his friends about the future. Constantly connecting and reaching out, dabbling and learning, planning.
Eventually, he found his way to Syracuse University where he received his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Religion from 1971 to 1978. He was a consummate professor and learner, happy to dive into the depths of a philosophical debate or complex mathematical theory or the origin of a word. His favorite story to tell was the origin of the "whomp!", which he swears he witnessed when a bass player blew an amp at a concert in 1969.
After a few years living in the Northeast, Jeff made his way back to Texas, eventually landing in Dallas where he worked for many computer technology companies, including Texas Instruments. He met his future wife, Cynthia, in 1985. In November of 1987, they were married and together they settled in Tulsa to raise three children - CrystalRose, Sean, and Gavin.
Jeff was a survivor. He was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and given 6 months to live over 13 years ago. Against all odds, he recovered and was declared free of the disease a year after his diagnosis. He spent the last 12 years "On the move!" as his email signature always read. Never content to sit in the present and always making plans for the future, we'll carry his future in ours.
Jeff's greatest joy was to give of himself. He spent his life connecting people; mentoring, guiding, and helping them. He couldn't let a day go by without touching at least one person's life. If he met you it wasn't long before he'd learned your life story and had more than a few extraordinary stories of his own to share.
Jeff is survived by his loving wife, his three children, his brothers, Roderick and Thomas, and their families, and his many cousins whom he loved profoundly.
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a donation to Jeff's end of life services and celebration.
$7,321.11
of $9,000 goal
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
Send flowers
Share your sympathy. Send flowers from a local florist to Jefferson's family or funeral.
Memories & condolences
I was blessed to cross paths with Jeff many times in many professional and social venues. From Sustainable Tulsa (now …
I was blessed to cross paths with Jeff many times in many professional and social venues. From Sus…
I was blessed to cross paths with Jeff many times in many profes…
Jeff was so fun, intelligent, and fabulous! I miss his witty banter and the inciteful knowledge he so willingly shared…
Jeff was so fun, intelligent, and fabulous! I miss his witty banter and the inciteful knowledge he…
Jeff was so fun, intelligent, and fabulous! I miss his witty ba…
I have had no contact in many decades, but I knew Jeff when we were both undergrads at Austin College (I was in the sam…
I have had no contact in many decades, but I knew Jeff when we were both undergrads at Austin Colle…
I have had no contact in many decades, but I knew Jeff when we w…
I met Jeff in 1986 while working together at Creative Communications Group. In 1987 I recommended Jeff to one of my cli…
I met Jeff in 1986 while working together at Creative Communications Group. In 1987 I recommended J…
I met Jeff in 1986 while working together at Creative Communicat…
In lieu of flowers
Please consider a donation to Jeff's end of life services and celebration.
$7,321.11
of $9,000 goal
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
Send flowers
Share your sympathy. Send flowers from a local florist to Jefferson's family or funeral.
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Created with love by
Sean Stewart (Jefferson's son),
Gavin Stewart,
Cynthia J Stewart (Jefferson's wife),
Alixe Stewart and
CrystalRose Stewart (Jefferson's daughter).
