Uncle Stuart was an intermittent constant in my life. We never lived in the same state but saw each other periodically through the years. He was always welcoming and nonjudgemental. He lived live on his own terms and inspired me to do the same. At a young age he helped me realize everyone has a different path and just because it is different does not mean it is wrong. I can remember when I was very young that he loved to dance and spoke of a strange thing called yoga. That makes me smile because yoga is everywhere now.

I visited Stuart after junior college in Watertown, New York, shortly after he first moved to Arizona in the early 70's. At this time he was new to area and was living with roommates. He'd show me the sites in Phoenix, Tempe near Arizona State University, where he attended school. Those were the hippy times. Eventually, our parents moved to the retirement area of Arizona as well, so over many years I often flew back to visit and sometimes I lived with him before I moved over the ocean to Hawaii.