David Archibald Stewart

David died after a brief illness on October 18, 2017. The son of Gerald Stewart and Gwen (Archibald) Stewart, David is survived by his wife, Linda (MacLeod) Stewart, his children Laura (John Stroud) and Douglas (Shelly Mosseri), his precious granddaughter, Olivia, his sister, Lynn Stewart, as well as his nieces and nephews.

Born in Liverpool, David was raised in Moncton. After undergraduate studies at Mount Allison University, law school at Dalhousie University, a Masters in Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and further studies at the London School of Economics, David joined the law firm of Stewart, McKeen and Covert in Halifax which later became Stewart McKelvey. David loved both the law and the practice of law, a rarer combination than one might think. Specializing in corporate, tax and estate law, he worked with many clients for the entirety of his 56-year legal career. David was dedicated to his clients, working hard on their behalf, worrying on their behalf, and striving to provide his best legal advice and achieve the best outcome on every file.

David had a large and diverse number of personal interests. He was a life-long student of military history, a voracious reader (always non-fiction, never novels for him), an amateur astronomer and a collector, restorer and appraiser of antique firearms. He was interested in genealogy and spent considerable time researching both the Stewart and Archibald branches of his family tree. A former hunter and skeet shooter, he discovered fly fishing in the 1970s and left all other outdoor pursuits behind. Whether fishing locally, out of province or out of country, David happily described himself as a “fishing fool” and had a close group of friends who shared the same passion.

David’s family was his North Star. He was a loving, dedicated spouse and parent. He cheered every success, was supportive through every failure, and was a source of constancy and understanding. He relished the role of grandfather. There was no activity or game that “Pop” would not do. David especially loved to laugh with his family. He appreciated anything witty or humorous, whether it was low-brow or high. Games nights in the Stewart household were a favourite activity; they were usually competitive, laced with jokes and teasing. He loved those evenings.

A member of the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program, David was an active member of the Canadian Naval Reserves for several years. He was proud of his work in the reserves and equally relieved that he was never caught as the instigator of several mischievous pranks on shore and at sea. After his service ended, he continued to be a supporter of all of Canada’s armed services.

David was a man of strong faith and values. A life-long member of the United Church of Canada, he served in several different lay positions, most recently as a board member of St. Andrew’s Church in Halifax. David loved church music, especially the Advent carol services in the weeks leading up to Christmas. He thought all of the carols were beautiful and enjoyed singing them; what he lacked in talent he made up for in enthusiasm.

Many thanks to the Emergency Room and 5.2 South ICU teams at the QEII Infirmary Site for their compassion and excellent care. Particular thanks to critical care nurses, Elinor, Kathleen, Bria, Lisa, Cait and Rhonda and critical care physicians Dr. Green and Dr. Witter.

Everyone will have their own special memories of David. To his family, he was a fantastic husband and father who lives on in our hearts. David was a quiet philanthropist who supported several charities. A donation to a charity of your choice is exactly what he would have wanted.

David’s life will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 2pm at St. Andrew’s United Church (1390 Robie Street, Halifax). A reception will follow in the church hall.