Obituary: Isaac Daniel Stewart, Jr.

Isaac Daniel Stewart, Jr. 1932 ~ 2005 Isaac Daniel Stewart, Jr. was born November 21, 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Isaac Daniel Stewart, Sr. and Orabelle Iverson Stewart. Dan attended East High School where he was an outstanding scholar, avid athlete and All State football star. He attended the University of Utah for one year on a football scholarship where he joined Sigma Chi fraternity. From 1953 to 1956, Dan served as an LDS missionary in the West German mission where his mastery of the German language and excellent understanding of the religion resulted in a public speaking assignment where he lectured at universities throughout Germany. Months before returning home, Dan contracted polio. He spent the next year and a half in a difficult rehabilitation at Rancho Los Amigo Hospital in California where he was confined to an iron lung and worked to regain the most basic abilities such as holding a pen. Returning to Utah, Dan weaned himself from a respirator and set his sights on obtaining the finest education he could receive. In 1959, Dan graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Utah, Phi Beta Kappa, and was selected as class valedictorian. He then entered the University of Utah College of Law, where he served as Editor-In-Chief of the Law Review, was elected to the Order of the Coif, and graduated first in his class. In 1959, Dan married the beautiful and accomplished Geraldine Elizabeth Bryan. From 1962 to 1965, Dan worked with the United States Department of Justice Honors Antitrust Department in Washington, D.C. Upon their return to Utah, Dan joined the University of Utah law school faculty where he spent five years teaching civil procedure, evidence and antitrust. He was known for serious legal scholarship and effective teaching. From 1970-79, Dan was a partner and managing partner at the law firm of Jones, Waldo, Holbrook & McDonough where he enjoyed practicing major business antitrust and First Amendment litigation. In 1979, then Governor Scott Matheson appointed Dan to the Utah Supreme Court where he served for 21 years. Justice Stewart brought to the court a reflective and independent legal mind. He was known for the powerful clarity of his writing, the enormous depth of his thought and legal analysis, and colorful and sometimes strong language used in his opinions. His fundamental belief in the rule of law many times resulted in passionate and courageous dissents. Justice Stewart, Dan, Danny, Uncle Dangy, Grandpa Danny, and Dad was an extraordinary man with a superior intellect, an iron will, a keen interest in politics, economics, books, sports, fine art and natural beauty. He dearly loved his wife, children, and grandchildren. He had an innate sense of playfulness that connected him to his family. Dan had a profound faith in God and a great love for his religion and for his religious and family heritage. He spent many hours pondering and exploring the fundamental tenets and nuances of his religious beliefs. Danny was a self made man. He was a man of enormous will and inner strength who exhibited courageous stoicism in the face of the most trying circumstances. He demonstrated extraordinary independence, speaking for what he believed to be true regardless of others' views. He had a profound work ethic and showed shear determination in all undertakings from the agonizing death penalty cases he was asked to decide to, at the end, simply breathing from hour to hour. Despite his obstacles, Dan was charismatic and quick witted, an unparalleled conversationalist, and was a man who could light up a room with his charm and broad smile. He understood people and particularly those in special need, the disenfranchised and those treated unfairly. Dan was accompanied in life by his dear bride, Elizabeth, who devotedly stood by his side. She selflessly attended to his needs and during the last few very hard years, provided attentive and tireless care. Dan and the family appreciate the care Dan received from physicians, family members, friends and aids over the last 10 years without which he and Elizabeth would not have survived. He is survived by his darling wife, Elizabeth; his daughter, Liz Stewart Whitney, and her husband, John Larson, and their children, Rebecca Elizabeth Whitney, Madeline Ann Whitney, Elizabeth Larson, McCall Larson and Jack Larson, and daughter, Shannon Stewart, and her husband, Matthew Clark, and their children, Eliza Stewart Clark, Isaac Daniel Clark, and Amelia Stewart Clark; his sisters, Mary Louise Holbrook, Caroline Madsen, Saundra Stewart, Geraldine Waterman; and loving nieces and nephews. Dan has finally been released and we rejoice in his new found freedom. He is received by his mother, father, and siblings. Run Dan. Run. Funeral services will be held Wed-nesday, June 29, 2005 at 12:30 p.m. in the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 South Wasatch Drive. Family and friends may call Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East So. Temple and Wednesday, 11 a.m., at the stake center. Interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers family suggests donations to S.J. Quinney College of Law, 801-581-4640