Gary Stewart was a professor for 36 years, teaching theater, directing plays, chairing departments and running theater companies at The University of Massachusetts and Indiana State University. He was Artistic Director of the professional SummerStage Repertory Company for 24 years. Over a forty year career Gary directed some seventy productions including the original productions of a dozen new works, half of which have subsequently been published. He wrote seven produced plays, two of which were published and three produced professionally, among them Downwinder Dance and Mary and Joe. Two of his mystery novels, The Tenth Virgin and The Zarahemla Vision, were published by Saint Martin\s Press and his western novel The Avenging Angel was made into the TNT movie of the same name, starring Tom Berenger, James Cobern and featuring Charleton Heston as Brigham Young. At the time of his death he was at work on a mystery novel set in Utah and a series of memoirs for his grandkids. His Sunstone presentation \"Why I Can\t Write My Joseph Smith Play\" was published in Dialogue in 2009. Gary was born in Salt Lake City and raised in Kaysville when Fruit Heights still had fruit. He has degrees from Brigham Young University and The University of Iowa. Diana Markham Stewart, a free lance writer and his wife of almost 40 years died in 2001.
He is survived by his two daughters, Beth Stewart Hassett and Emily Stewart Fordyce, his son-in-law Kevin Hassett, two granddaughters, Eden Hassett and Leah Hassett, his sister Susanna Tribe and the thousands of actors and students who brought his work to life.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 21 at 4:30 pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 S. Burial will follow. Family and friends may visit from 3:30 pm until 4:30 pm prior to the services. Gifts in his memory may be made to Ballet West at Balletwest.org or 52 W. 200 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84101 to support one of his many passions.
