13/08/2026
Thomas James Stewart, 75, of Highland Park, Illinois, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, at Evanston Hospital in Evanston, Illinois. His wife, Susan Stewart (née Krueger); his son, Brendan Thomas Stewart, and Brendan's longtime partner, Alexandria Green Cowlishaw, were with him when he passed.
Thom was born in Covington, Kentucky, on March 14, 1951, to James Thomas Stewart and Mary Ann Stewart (née Rieger). Later, his brothers Daniel, David, and Terrance joined the close-knit family.
He graduated from Covington's Holy Cross High School in 1969 and from Northwestern University in 1973 with a degree in electrical engineering. He built lifelong friendships in college and in his workplaces throughout his life.
Thom was an avid photographer and traveler who loved exploring the outdoors, camping, and music. While in high school, he played the organ for Holy Cross Church and guitar in a local folk band. Thom and his wife sang and played guitar at the Sheil Center at Northwestern University during college, at numerous family and friends' weddings, and in Chicago coffee houses in the 70s and 80s.
Thom was a kind, caring, gentle man who loved to bake and cook. He helped prepare meals for people in a homeless shelter each month. At Christmas time, he dressed as Santa Claus, led Christmas carol sing-alongs, and distributed gifts to homeless children.
Thom served on the Board of Directors of BMT InfoNet, a charity founded to help people undergoing a bone marrow transplant - a cause close to his heart, having served as his wife's caregiver during her bone marrow transplant.
Thom was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary Ann Stewart, and his brothers Daniel and David. He is survived by his wife, Susan; his son, Brendan; his brother, Terrance; his sisters-in-law, Barbara Stewart (Daniel's spouse) and Alice Brendel (David's spouse); nieces, Heather Stewart, Adrienne Dabbelt, Shannon Brunner, and Christina Walston; nephews, Sean Stewart, Justin Stewart, and Travis Stewart; cousin, Brian Rieger; and many other Rieger and Stewart family members and friends who will miss and remember him fondly.
A celebration of life service is planned for October 2026.
Donations can be made in his memory to BMT InfoNet at bmtinfonet.org/make-donation or Holy Cross High School at https://hchscov.com/home/support-hc