Stephen J. Stuart

Stephen John Stuart
January 18, 1952 - February 10, 2023
Sacramento, California - Stephen John Stuart passed away peacefully at home on February 10, 2023, at the age of 71, after courageously battling health issues for more than a decade. Steve was raised in Land Park and graduated from C.K. McClatchy High School in 1969. With a healthy dose of wanderlust, a love for the outdoors, and influence of the late-sixties culture, Steve left UC Berkeley and moved to the Sierra Nevada foothills, embracing his love of skiing as a ski instructor. As a third-generation fly fisherman, he spent endless hours on the rivers of the western United States with family and friends. Steve loved building and working with his hands; he found great joy in cooking, working on cars, nurturing African violets and tinkering in his garage. He owned two Harley Davidsons, ultimately replacing that passion for a safer mode of two-wheel transportation as he became an avid, competitive cyclist. He was a voracious reader, and maybe the greatest Jeopardy contestant to never step foot on the stage.
After returning to Sacramento, Steve met his first wife, Susan, where their son, Sean, and their daughter, Stephanie were born. During a prosperous career as a VP at Cal Central Press, his client relationships grew to include the Giants, 49ers and Warriors and provided him with countless memories of attending games for his beloved teams with family and friends. But his most passionate work, involved his fifth-generation, family-owned and Sacramento-based business, East Lawn, where he served as a board member.
In 2004, Steve married his second wife, and loving partner to the end, Ann. Together they raised a pack of wonderful pug dogs, traveled the world and spent hours cycling through California and beyond. It was through this incredible Sacramento community that Steve and Ann cultivated deep and lasting friendships. Alongside his brother, lifelong pals and Sutter Club friends, Steve enjoyed many rukus Friday lunches at Piatti restaurant and other escapades, including annual boys' trips to Cabo San Lucas.
For Steve, Ann was his rock and champion as they searched for nearly a decade to identify the cause of his health issues, stumping doctors throughout California, and eventually receiving some clarity at the Mayo Clinic. But with such a rich life lived, his legacy will not be defined by the diseases that took him, but by his passion for living and heroic optimism that he demonstrated to everyone around him.
Stephen is survived by his wife Ann Stuart; sister Sally Tollette; Brother Michael Stuart and his wife Susie Stuart; son Sean Stuart, his wife Margot Stuart and their children Baillie, Avery and Weston; daughter Stephanie Stuart Trinder, husband Nick Trinder, and their children Madeleine, Hugh and Naomi; the mother of his children Susan Stuart; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents John Stuart and Huolene Stuart; and Brother-in-law Henry Tollette.
A Celebration of Life will be held March 18th at East Lawn in East Sacramento.
In Lieu of flowers, the family would ask you please make donations to the Mayo Clinic and Pug Rescue of Northern California.