KENNETH WILLIAM STEWART

Condolences & Memories (4 entries)

• Dr. Stewart was my favorite U of M Zoology Professor in the early 1980's, (1982, I believe). He inspired me in ways that eventually ended up with myself becoming a Science and Math teacher in the Northwest Territories, Canada, where I still work (Tuktoyaktuk, NT), although my first teaching position was in 2005 in Deline, NWT on Great Bear Lake). It didn't happen immediately as my young self did a lot of travelling to SE Asia, NE Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Europe, etc. I'm 62 years of age and I'm recalling some of my fondest memories and was very pleased to find this link. My father had a desire to go fishing with me on Great Bear Lake but circumstances didn't allow for it at the time and he passed away prior to that becoming a reality. Aside from his zoological brilliance, Dr. Stewart had an amazing sense of humor: I distinctly recall him riding into a large, packed U of M lecture hall on the back of a motorcycle, getting off the bike and begin lecturing as if nothing had changed. The laughter was thunderous. Curiosity & discovery forever. - Posted by: HELMUT DYCK (Former Student University of Manitoba) on: Nov 20, 2024

• Our Irish Setters and Ken's Malamutes got along well together but it was the experience of fishing for Channel Cats, from a canoe, in the dark, at the base of the Red River floodway gates which reminds me most of Ken Stewart and his passion for what others might consider a bit unusual behaviour when it came to fishing. - Posted by: Ron Hay (Former student and friend) on: Jul 16, 2014

• I first met Ken in roughly 1998 when he came into the homebrewing shop I was working at and flat out asked: How? I know it can be done, but how? Ken was always a great source for pushing my knowledge as a brewer because I'm the type that if I don't know I'll say so, I'll find out, and pass the info on. He started with some rudimentary equipment, honed his craft, improved his technique, freely gave out recipes to his most popular home brews, and frequently outbrewed others with delicate, well balanced beers that I still remember to this day. His toasty Wild Rice Pale Ale, his bracingly sour Berliner Weisse, and his Witbier was AMAZING - a full 10 years prior to it catching on at the national breweries! Ken took his turn as President of the Winnipeg Brew Bombers Homebrewing Club and kept coming to meetings, freely sharing his knowledge and expertise. We heard often of Bess and the dogs. Thanks to Ken, when I moved to BC for a brewing job, I got into fly fishing and tying. I'm terrible at both, but still think of him while practicing my casting on those still mornings when there's nothing but the flies and wary fish to keep me company. Will miss you greatly, Ken. You are an inspiration for us all to keep the fire of curiosity burning for a lifetime. - Posted by: David Rudge (Fellow Brewer) on: May 23, 2012

• Ken Stewart was a mentor when I was a zoology student at the University of Manitoba from 1976 to 1980. He was instrumental in my gaining scholarships to pursue graduate studies in zoology in Australia. His broad knowledge (not just of zoological topics) and ability to tell a captivating anecdote were inspirational. I have too many stories and memories to write down in one spot, but if I had to pick one it would have to be the field trip down to Big Bend National Park that the herpetology class took in May of 1980. There were three cars, with Ken in the lead car. The cars were all fitted with CB radios and most of the way from Winnipeg to Florida Ken acted as tour guide, informing the rest of us about the geological, anthropological and biological histories of each of the areas we passed through. He'll be missed. - Posted by: David Kirshner (former student) on: Apr 27, 2012