James Stewart, 76; veteran became telephone executive
TOPSFIELD - Moments after he ended a eulogy for his only brother, Dick, with the words, "He will be a hard act to follow," James W. Stewart collapsed in his seat Saturday in the first pew at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Mr. Stewart, who was 76, suffered an apparent heart attack and was pronounced dead at Beverly Hospital. His death stunned two families and about 225 friends who had filled the little church in the woods for a memorial service.
"He was sure about what he wanted, and needed, to say about his brother," said the Rev. Johanna Barrett, who led the service at Trinity Episcopal. "Then, he followed his brother in death."
His brother, Richard H. Stewart, who worked for 31 years at the Globe before retiring to Hilton Head, S.C., died Oct. 20 from complications after heart surgery at a Georgia hospital. He was 77.
Saturday's memorial service was held in Topsfield, where Dick Stewart and his late wife, Patricia, reared four children.
Just after the start of the 2 p.m. service, James Stewart stood before mourners. In a voice that at first broke, but grew increasingly strong, he traced his brother's life, from boyhood in rural Middleton in the 1940s, to a Globe career that took him from Congress to the Canadian border, working as a political and New England reporter. He also served as city editor and national editor and in the public relations department.
Karen Stewart of Beverly, one of James Stewart's three children, said her father was in good health, with no apparent heart problems.
"He was cutting trees and clearing fields a week ago," she said by telephone yesterday. "His hugs, his kisses, his handshakes, everything was fine [Saturday] morning."
She said her father was a private man but looked forward to eulogizing his brother. "He said he wanted to publicly proclaim his love for him," she said.
The Stewart brothers were the sons of a
"My grandmother told me that she came home one day to find one of them hanging the other out a window," Jo Broderick of Middleton, Dick Stewart's daughter, said laughing. "I'm not sure which one was hanging."
In his eulogy, James Stewart recalled how their parents taught their sons the value of hard work. His brother took a bus, a train, and a subway on his daily commute to Northeastern University, he said.
James Stewart joined the Navy after graduating from Holten High School in 1949 in Danvers. He was a Korean War veteran who served stateside aboard the USS Crevalle. After his discharge, he got a job as a lineman at New England Telephone Co., and retired as an executive with the company, his daughter said.
His wife, Jean (Palardy), died in 2002.
In addition to his daughter, James Stewart leaves a son, James, of Arlington and a daughter, Debra Rosenberger, of Carver.
Funeral services for James Stewart will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Peterson-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Danvers.
Karen Stewart recalled a 1984 Globe article in which her uncle wrote of her father's talent for fixing cars. "That meant a lot to our family," she said. In retirement, the two brothers visited each other and spoke on the phone every Sunday, she said.
Dick Stewart's journalism career included a stint in 1971 as press secretary to Senator Edmund Muskie, then a Democratic candidate for president. James Stewart recalled how his brother took their mother on the candidate's private plane for photographs. A few years later, Dick Stewart shared the stage with President Jimmy Carter at an event honoring Muskie. He delivered a speech laced with wit and humor.
When he ended his eulogy to his brother Saturday, James Stewart paraphrased Carter, saying, "You are a hard act to follow."
He returned to his seat. Broderick kissed him. A few minutes later, Broderick read a passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes, which starts "For everything there is a season . . . a time to be born and a time to die." She returned to her seat and noticed her uncle was breathing erratically. Rev. Barrett asked whether a physician was present.
A nurse and emergency medical technician stepped forward and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation until an ambulance arrived. Rev. Barrett said a prayer for James Stewart, then led mourners in The Lord's Prayer.
"Uncle Jimmy said [the eulogy] would be the last thing he could do for my father," Broderick said. "Who knew they would be his last words?" 