Dr. David Alan Stewart (1954-2004)

It is with much sadness to report that Dr. David Alan Stewart, our former Technical Director of ice hockey, had passed away unexpectedly on Monday, 7 June 2004 at his home in Mason, Michigan.

David is survived by wife Elizabeth (Bazley) and children- Rachel (19), Rebecca (16), Jennifer, (15), and Michael (12), parents- Stanley and Elsie Stewart of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, sisters- Diane Little, Sherry Stewart, and Amandah Tanner, and many nieces and nephews, and sister and brother in law- Caroline Bazley and Fredrick Bazley, and parents in law- Jean Watson and Walter Bazley of Ontario, Canada.

David received his Diploma for Deaf Education in 1978, Master of Arts in 1982, and doctorate in Education in 1985, all from the University of British Columbia.  Stewart was Professor and Director of the graduate Deaf Education program at Michigan State University.  He began his career teaching deaf children at Jericho School of the Deaf and has worked with families of deaf children for 25 years.  He was a prolific writer with six books in publication and dozens of journal and research publications.   He received several scholarly awards in his career, including the David Peikoff Chair of Deafness Studies at University of Alberta.  He is a member of the Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.) Board of Trustees.

Fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), Dr. Stewart directed a number of federal and university funded research projects.  His research interest included interactive video and computer applications for deaf children and hearing associates who wished to learn sign communication.  He was a pioneer in creating software, on-line, and other computer applications for learning ASL.   His 1995 software received the "Computer Software of the Year" award from Discover Magazine.  He did extensive research and teaching in the use of ASL and English-based forms of sign communication.  David believed that every child has special strengths and every child can attain their goals and aspirations.

In addition to his deepest love of family and vocation, David was an avid hockey player and coach.  He served very well as Technical Director of ice hockey at four editions of Winter Deaflympic Games.

Services were held on Saturday, June 12, 2004 at 14:00 at All Saints, Episcopal Church, 800 Abbott Rd., East Lansing.  Memorial gifts may be made to Angel House (an emergency shelter for children) or St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church.