GORDON LESLIE Stewart, father of Sandals and Air Jamaica chairman, Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, died peacefully at his St. Andrew home yesterday morning.
Mr. Stewart, more popularly known as 'Daddy Stew', was 84 and had been ailing for some time.
The son of Florence Mae Coxe and James Stuart Coxe, Mr. Stewart was adopted by Ethel Penelope and Cyril Stewart of Woodfield, Walkerswood, St. Ann. He was educated at Stonyhurst, England, and attended radio college in Cardiff, Wales. He received his radio engineering and telegraphy licence in 1935 and served as a radio engineer during the war years.
Mr. Stewart later worked for Pan American World Airways and was instrumental in the setting up of the now-defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC). In January 1990, he received a special award from the Jamaica Amateur Radio Association for his assistance during natural disasters. He was included in the JBC's honour roll when the radio and television station celebrated its 35th anniversary in 1994.
He is survived by his wife, Jean, sons Gordon and Peter, daughter, Pat Hawryluk, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
